Saturday, August 31, 2019

Review - The Boring Book

The Boring Book
by Shinsuke Yoshitake
Date: 2017
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Boredom: humankind's age-old adversary. It's a state that is undesirable, uninteresting... and just plain boring. But as one particularly bored boy discovers, there's actually more to boredom than meets the eye—more questions, more theories, and heaps of humor. This exploration of boredom from acclaimed author-illustrator Shinsuke Yoshitake playfully—and hilariously—unpacks the ways in which a seemingly stagnant state is actually a portal into a dynamic, life-enriching experience. For anyone who's ever been mind-numbingly bored, this smart, laugh-out-loud picture book just might change your perspective on the state of boredom forever.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is, rather ironically, not entirely boring. It's full of head-scratching moments, and the overall feeling I'm left with after reading it is exhaustion. Imagine a kid who's so bored that they just start letting random things pop out of their mouth. Now imagine that you've just fed them an energy drink and some ice cream... and you'll start to get an idea of how this book wallops the reader with its annoyingly frenetic energy.

I guess part of the point may be to show that our minds can go to weird places when we're bored, but this was just so disjointed. I swear, I don't think I've ever read anything like it. The thoughts jump around so much that it's difficult to keep hold of any particular thread, except at one point near the middle where the kid muses for many pages about whether various random objects feel boredom. (That went on for way too long.) Here's an example of what I mean, taken verbatim from the text:

Wait--what makes things boring?

Why am I bored?

What does "boring" mean, anyway?

What if I were stuffed into a big donut?

The randomness of such switches are almost enough to give the reader whiplash. (It didn't help that my e-book copy from the library didn't match up the text with the images properly. That may have been part of what happened with the donut example, but still... that's a really abrupt transition!)

Things get even weirder when the kid asks his father about boredom, and the pictures show them glaring at each other like they're having a terrible argument. The tone and content of the text doesn't match the illustrations at all, so I'm wondering if there was something lost in translation from the Japanese.

In any case, this is just a weird book. I can't say it bored me, though. It's hard to be bored when you're wondering what the heck is going on.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.67 out of 5

Review - A Stone Sat Still

A Stone Sat Still
by Brendan Wenzel
Date: 2019
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 56
Format: e-book
Source: library

In this moving companion to the Caldecott Honor–winning They All Saw a Cat, Brendan Wenzel tells the story of a seemingly ordinary stone. But it isn't just a stone—to the animals that use it, it's a resting place, a kitchen, a safe haven...even an entire world. With stunning illustrations in cut paper, pencil, collage, and paint, and soothing rhythms that invite reading aloud, A Stone Sat Still is a gorgeous exploration of perspective, perception, sensory experience, color, size, function, and time, with an underlying environmental message that is timely and poignant. Once again Wenzel shows himself to be a master of the picture book form.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read They All Saw a Cat earlier this year. I have to say, that one was just okay for me. I think I enjoyed A Stone Sat Still a lot more.

Both books are about different perspectives, but they approach the topic in slightly different ways. They All Saw a Cat shows how various creatures see the cat that's prowling through the scenes. A Stone Sat Still is more about how the stone--a steady constant--influences the lives of the various creatures that encounter it.

The pictures are interesting, though not quite as fascinating as in They All Saw a Cat. The tone gets a little heavy toward the end, too, with the environmental message. But I still think it's a worthwhile book to read, as it shows how one thing can be perceived and used in so many different ways.

Quotable moment:


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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Review - Poe: Stories and Poems (DNF)

Poe: Stories and Poems
by Edgar Allan Poe & Gareth Hinds
Date: 2017
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: YA
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 120
Format: paperback
Source: library

In a thrilling adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's best-known works, acclaimed artist-adapter Gareth Hinds translates Poe's dark genius into graphic-novel format.

It is true that I am nervous. But why will you say that I am mad?

In -The Cask of Amontillado, - a man exacts revenge on a disloyal friend at carnival, luring him into catacombs below the city. In -The Masque of the Red Death, - a prince shielding himself from plague hosts a doomed party inside his abbey stronghold. A prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition, faced with a swinging blade and swarming rats, can't see his tormentors in -The Pit and the Pendulum, - and in -The Tell-Tale Heart, - a milky eye and a deafening heartbeat reveal the effects of conscience and creeping madness. Alongside these tales are visual interpretations of three poems -- -The Raven, - -The Bells, - and Poe's poignant elegy to lost love, -Annabel Lee.- The seven concise graphic narratives, keyed to thematic icons, amplify and honor the timeless legacy of a master of gothic horror.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

DNF @ 53%

When you just can't bring yourself to pick up a book again, you know it's time to call it quits.

This is not my first encounter with Poe. I read "The Cask of Amontillado" earlier this year. I've read "The Raven". And I think we might've explored "The Tell-Tale Heart" in a high school drama class many years ago. This volume collects many of the writer's most famous works and gives them a graphic novel treatment. Does it work? Well... no. Not really.

Maybe if I hadn't read some of these on their own beforehand, I might've been more impressed. The problem I have is that what my mind can come up with while reading is much scarier than what's spelled out in the illustrations. I was underwhelmed by "The Masque of the Red Death", even though it started off with an interesting premise. "The Pit and the Pendulum" took me from suspense to eye rolls. "Annabel Lee" was a complete waste of time. But "The Cask of Amontillado" was what really clinched it for me. It's a lot less scary to see someone's speech bubbles full of "hahahaha!" than it is to read that someone was laughing maniacally. The graphic novel format turned what is a horrifying story with a terrifyingly sadistic main character into something I couldn't even take seriously.

I didn't even get to "The Raven", but I really don't think there's much the author/illustrator could've done with it to improve upon the original. Read Poe's version (or watch the surprisingly amusing version The Simpsons did of it in one of their annual Halloween specials).

As for the rest, I don't feel like I'm missing much. Some things are better left to the imagination. Trying to illustrate horror stories runs the risk of diluting the terror... which is exactly what happened here.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Review - Help Wanted: Must Love Books

Help Wanted: Must Love Books
by Janet Sumner Johnson
illustrated by Courtney Dawson
Date: 2020
Publisher: Capstone
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

When Shailey's dad gets a new job, she loses her bedtime reading partner. She immediately starts interviews to fill the position and is thrilled when her favorite fairy tale characters line up to apply. But Sleeping Beauty can't stay awake, the Gingerbread Man steals her book, and Snow White brings her whole team. Shailey is running out of options. Is bedtime ruined forever?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The premise of this book is pretty cute. However, it's also one of those that seems to be directing winks at the parents, and that becomes problematic on one particular page when it assumes that its audience is more mature and educated than it actually is.

Shailey and her dad read a bedtime story every night. But when her dad gets a new job, he's suddenly too busy to read anymore. So Shailey fires him and puts out an ad for a new bedtime story reader. She gets plenty of applicants, but there's something wrong with all of them. Goldilocks is obsessed with the comfort of the seating. Sleeping Beauty can't stay awake. The Three Little Pigs get frightened off by the Big Bad Wolf before they even have a chance to interview. It isn't until a somewhat familiar face shows up and applies for the job that Shailey finds the perfect candidate.

I don't have much of a problem with all that. The résumés at the back are cute, too (even if much of what's in them will go over readers' heads). But there's one candidate that just didn't work. Or, I should say, Shailey's reaction didn't work. The candidate is a giant. A very human-looking giant who just happens to be very large. But rather than using the opportunity to make a statement about differences not being inherently negative, the book shows Shailey being afraid, and subsequently changing her ad to read: "Human applicants only." Now, I understand that giants are often viewed as fictional creatures, but this particular giant looked pretty real. He was simply very large. When I read Shailey's revised ad, I cringed, because it seems to endorse being afraid of differences and also discriminating based on size... as well as implying that giants aren't human. Because there are very real medical conditions that can cause people to grow unusually large, this book has the potential to fuel bigotry, and potentially even bullying. I'd hate to see kids read this and then turn around and taunt their larger peers with: "Not human!"

So I can't wholeheartedly endorse this one. Perhaps Shailey's problem with the giant applicant could've been a more practical one (e.g., "Must be able to fit in our rocking chair.") or the candidate could've been changed altogether. As it is, though, I feel uncomfortable with a book that promotes discrimination based on size, going so far as to imply someone is not human because of it. The illustrations are cute, otherwise, and the resolution to the story makes perfect sense. Maybe with a bit of tweaking, this book could avoid a potentially problematic issue and be a cute fairy tale-based read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.83 out of 5

Review - Aalfred and Aalbert

Aalfred and Aalbert
by Morag Hood
Date: 2019
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A heartwarming love story of blossoming friendship between two aardvarks

Aalfred and Aalbert lead solitary lives. Sometimes, Aalfred thinks he might like to be part of a pair, and sometimes Aalbert thinks he might like to be one of two. But Aalfred sleeps all day, and Aalbert sleeps all night--so how will the two ever meet? Luckily, a helpful bystander intervenes and when Aalfred and Aalbert's paths cross in the most unexpected way, they find that they go together quite well, just like cheese and broccoli.

This adorable story about two aardvarks and an unlikely matchmaker will appeal to families with LGBTQ parents and family members as author-illustrator Morag Hood keeps children laughing with funny situations and entertaining teachable moments about relationships.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Classifying this as an LGBTQ book is a real stretch. I don't know if I would've even picked up on that if I hadn't read the synopsis. What's wrong with two people just being friends? Why does everything have to result in two people (or aardvarks, in this case) getting paired off? Aalfred and Aalbert are both so solitary that they don't even have any other friends; you'd think their priority would simply be getting to know other like-minded aardvarks... not searching for a life partner. But that's the premise this book goes with, subtly teaching kids that everybody needs to be in some sort of monogamous, two-person relationship, even if all you want to do is have someone to play badminton and share your cheese with.

The pictures are kind of cute, I guess, and I like the aardvarks' names (I thought they were Dutch at first, though I'm pretty sure it's just a play on the double "a" in "aardvark"), but I think the message of the book is just too "off" for me to really like it. Maybe if Aalfred and Aalbert had been shown having other friends, and simply wanting a special aardvark relationship in addition to all the others, I might have liked it more. It's not like they weren't nice guys; Aalfred is shown trying to cheer the little blue bird up, so we can tell he's kind. Which makes it all the more puzzling why both of these aardvarks are such loners...

For me, Aalfred and Aalbert are just friends. They're not shown doing anything particularly couple-ish, so I don't know why there's such a push to shoehorn this into the LGBTQ category.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing Company for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Review - Once Upon a Goat

Once Upon a Goat
by Dan Richards
illustrated by Eric Barclay
Date: 2019
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

A twisted fairy tale about a king and queen who wish for a child of their own... and end up with a baby goat. Perfect for readers of Children Make Terrible Pets and Wolfie the Bunny.

Once upon a time, a very prim and proper king and queen begged their fairy godmother for a child. They'd prefer a boy, with glowing skin, bright eyes, and two roses for lips... but any kid will do. When they find themselves gifted with a baby goat (also known as a kid) instead, they can't imagine how he'll fit into their lives. But of course, it isn't long before he's part of the royal family.

Readers will delight in this story's hilarity, confusion, and celebration of families that come in every shape and size.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a rather silly story about a king and queen who wish for a child ("Yes, but where would we put it?" asked the king. "Next to the vase on the hearth, naturally," replied the queen.) and end up getting much more than they bargained for when their fairy godmother leaves a literal kid on their doorstep. Things are a bit rough at first, but eventually the pair come to love their adopted hircine child. So when it's revealed that an even bigger mistake has been made, the royal couple has to make a decision about their family.

The plot is ridiculous, but also pretty funny. The clueless king and queen are endearing in their own way, even though they're a bit befuddled and frustrated with the new addition to their family. I quite like the illustrations, even though they're very simple; they're appealing and colourful, and the goat is pretty cute.

Overall, this is fun fairy tale about family, and how blood isn't everything when it comes to bonding and love.

Quotable moment:


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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - Duck & Penguin Are NOT Friends

Duck & Penguin Are NOT Friends
by Julia Woolf
Date: 2019
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Betty and Maud are the best of friends, and so surely their stuffed toys are too! But despite what Betty and Maud might think, Duck and Penguin are definitely NOT friends. They do not want to swing together, they do not want to cook together, and they certainly DO NOT want to play baby dolls together...

A side-splitting insight into the secret world of toys, from former Dreamworks animator and illustrator Julia Woolf.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I feel like I missed something here. Duck and Penguin go from not wanting to do anything together (and, in fact, they're shown physically abusing each other on the beginning endpapers) to being friends. Because... they have a shared disdain for playing with their human owners? I guess maybe a shared hatred for playing "itty-bitty babies" may have brought them together, but it's kind of a thin premise to hang the whole story on.

The illustrations don't really do anything for me, either (but the dismal quality of the ARC didn't help; I could barely see what I was looking at through all the pixelation).

I didn't find this as "side-splitting" as the synopsis suggests. Mostly, I was bored. And looking at the surly expressions on the toys' faces got old pretty fast.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing Company for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Review - Snitchy Witch

Snitchy Witch
by Frank J. Sileo
illustrated by MacKenzie Haley
Date: 2019
Publisher: Magination Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

"Oh moon so full, round, and bright
We beg one favor of you tonight
For witches who tattle, witches who snitch,
Tie their tongues, zip their lips!
No witch shall squeal or tell on friends.
This spell will be broken when the snitching ends!"

Tattling is an all too familiar occurrence among children that can have harmful impacts on friends and relationships. This spellbinding story encourages children to examine the difference between snitching and telling, and the impact of their words on others.

Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers with more information about snitching versus telling and what adults can do to help.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I do not like this. Not only is it potentially confusing, it's extremely frustrating and could reward bad behaviour in kids who manage to figure out the psychology you're using on them.

The premise here is that Wanda is a snitchy witch. She tattles on her friends until nobody wants to play with her. The others go even further, and cast a spell on Wanda so she won't be able to snitch.

The problem I have with this book is that the author defines as snitching anything that won't cause physical harm. So, stealing? Perfectly acceptable behaviour. Cutting in line? Who cares? Keeping people awake with noise? No big deal; I mean, it's just common courtesy, so it's optional. When there arises a potentially dangerous situation, Wanda is unable to say anything until she finds the exact right combination of words so that it doesn't sound like snitching. The other children who cast the spell on Wanda, rendering her unable to speak, are never punished, even though their behaviour really could have harmed someone.

I was curious as to this weird disconnect (I mean, why bother teaching children the rules if they're just going to be allowed to break them?), but something in the adults' note at the end caught my attention:

When safety is not an issue, do not punish the other child as it will reward and reinforce the snitching.

And herein lies the biggest problem I have with this book. Snitching is viewed as worse than breaking the rules, stealing, and even rendering someone mute with a spell! The child who is pointing out the bad behaviour of others is viewed as the villain, leaving the children engaging in the bad behaviour to continue with no repercussions.

And that's why I can't recommend this one.

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

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.83 out of 5

Review - Pacho Nacho

Pacho Nacho
by Silvia López
illustrated by Pablo Pino
Date: 2020
Publisher: Capstone Editions
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Mamá and Papá could not agree on a name for their first baby, and everyone in the family had an opinion. That's how the name Pacho-Nacho-Nico-Tico-Melo-Felo-Kiko-Rico came to be, and Pacho's parents insisted that everyone use his full name. But when Pacho finds himself in trouble, his younger brother, Juan, must quickly find help, which isn't easy when you have to keep saying Pacho-Nacho-Nico-Tico-Melo-Felo-Kiko-Rico. Author Silvia López highlights family values, community connections, and brotherly love in this interactive, energetic, and silly picture book. Pacho Nacho is based on an old Japanese folktale and includes Spanish words and phrases and multicultural settings.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

When I was little, a book that we frequently checked out from the library was Arlene Mosel's Tikki Tikki Tembo. My sister and I didn't know it was problematic back then; we just thought the name was funny and little Chang's predicament in trying to save his awkwardly named older brother made for a good story.

Pacho Nacho changes the setting to Mexico and gives us Pacho-Nacho-Nico-Tico-Melo-Felo-Kiko-Rico... and Juan. Gone are the mixed-up cultural references and nonsense words (Pacho Nacho's long name is apparently made up of common boys' nicknames). The story is very similar to the older Asian versions, with the elder brother becoming imperiled and the younger brother needing to get help... if only he could wrap his tongue around that name!

This book is written quite well, with a smattering of Spanish (a glossary is included at the end). And the illustrations are adorable.

Perhaps kids today will get as much enjoyment out of Pacho Nacho as previous generations did out of Tikki Tikki Tembo. And, as a bonus, they might learn a few Spanish words at the same time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone Editions for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.67 out of 5

Monday, August 26, 2019

Review - The Perfect Birthday Recipe

The Perfect Birthday Recipe
by Katy Hudson
Date: 2020
Publisher: Capstone Editions
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Summer birthdays can be lonely, but not when you have great friends like Beavers! This year Tortoise, Bird, Rabbit, and Squirrel insist on baking Beaver's birthday cake, but Beaver isn't so sure. He is the ultimate perfectionist and would rather do it himself, following the recipe exactly. Will Beaver's nitpicky ways ruin his birthday and his friendships? The Perfect Birthday Recipe is the fourth and final story in Katy Hudson's best-selling set of seasonal picture books, including Too Many Carrots, A Loud Winter's Nap, and The Golden Acorn.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I didn't realize this was the fourth book in a series, probably because you don't need to have read any of the other books to get something out of this one. The Perfect Birthday Recipe is a story about perfectionism, control, and friendship, cast with cute critters and one very special birthday cake.

When it's time for Beaver's birthday, he's got his perfect cake already planned out. But his friends want to help, and soon the cake is bursting with flavours that Beaver never expected. The cake is a bit of a disaster, and rather than be grateful for the thoughtfulness of his friends, Beaver is annoyed. He sets out to make another cake--his way--and finally finishes in the middle of the night... at which point there's nobody around to share it with. He comes to realize that maybe friendship is more important than the perfect birthday cake.

I'm having trouble deciding how to review this. The message is great. The illustrations are adorable. But the writing leaves something to be desired. The punctuation needs some work, and the unwieldy dialogue tags kept pulling me out of the flow of the story. (Seriously, how does someone "clap" their words?) Most of the issues with the text would be easily fixable, as they're to do with the technical aspects of the writing and not the story itself.

I definitely want to see some of the author's other work now; her illustrations are very cute. But I'm just not all that impressed by the writing in this book... so I guess my rating is going to have to be somewhere in the middle.

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone Editions for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5

Review - The Chalk Giraffe

The Chalk Giraffe
by Kirsty Paxton
illustrated by Megan Lötter
Date: 2018
Publisher: Capstone Editions
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A little girl's imagination springs to life when the chalk giraffe she drew on the pavement begins talking to her. But then the fickle giraffe begins making demands, and the girl must draw surroundings to fulfill his requests...a tree, soft grass, and animal friends. But nothing seems to please him! This delightful rhyming story escalates until the girl draws a laughing giraffe companion that cheers up the grumpy giraffe at last.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I think the premise of this book is cuter than the book itself ultimately turned out to be. A little girl draws a giraffe with chalk, and the creature starts talking to her. Okay, that's fine. Unfortunately, the giraffe is entirely unpleasant, complaining constantly, and the girl eventually has enough and smudges it out with her shoe. The next day, though, she feels guilty and redraws the giraffe. Inexplicably, she's suddenly part of the chalk drawing, and there she realizes that the giraffe is lonely. So she draws it a whole jungle full of friends. That's still not enough. The giraffe then draws himself a girlfriend, and all is right with the world.

I guess there's something to be said about promoting heteronormative relationships as a cure-all, but I won't bother going into that here. There are enough problems with the rest of the book... including the terribly clunky meter of the rhyming text. There are also some issues with punctuation. The text could probably be improved if more attention were paid to the technical details of the writing.

The illustrations are probably the best thing about the book, but aside from the dark "chalkboard" background, the pictures don't really look all that chalky. (There's really no excuse for this these days. There are plenty of chalk brushes available for programs like Photoshop, which would've made the illustrations look much more like authentic chalk drawings.) The pictures are cute and very colourful, but at times they rely too much on the text. (For example, when the girl goes into the drawing, she suddenly has "stick legs and arms". It's one of those "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" things, because she looks exactly the same otherwise, and if the text hadn't mentioned it, I might not have noticed. I would've preferred to see her look more like a child's drawing so that it would be clearer when she was in the imaginary world.)

Overall, I didn't like this one as much as I thought I would. The giraffe is annoyingly whiny, and the drawings don't look much like chalk. The premise is cute and creative, but a good premise alone doesn't make a great picture book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone Editions for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.57 out of 5

Review - Old Man of the Sea

Old Man of the Sea
by Stella Elia
illustrated by Weberson Santiago
Date: 2019
Publisher: Lantana Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Every Sunday, Grandpa waited for me in his room, and I took my place at the foot of the bed. There were days when Grandpa wanted to talk, and days when we sat in silence. Then one day, Grandpa began telling me stories about his life at sea--tales of love and adventure and danger on the ocean waves. And that's when I learned who my grandpa really was...

(synopsis from Goodreads)

At first glance, this is a cute little story that teaches a bit about world geography. I was enjoying it right up until the point where Grandpa fell in love with "America"... and then I realized that this book isn't going to work in North America.

The author being Brazilian, I wasn't surprised by how the book was worded. But the fact that the North American publisher didn't see a problem is what has me a bit baffled. See, South Americans tend to call the collective Americas "America" (with a sometimes violent insistence that I really don't understand; if they want to call themselves "Americans", fine... but they should be prepared to be misunderstood). North Americans, however, don't use that word on its own unless they're referring to the United States. This could be horribly confusing to most North American children, and it could've been easily fixed by referring to "the Americas" rather than just "America". (The text would've suffered a little since the names of the continents are used as proper names, as if they're people. Still, as it is, it's not going to work that well for North American children.)

The pictures are nice and colourful, and it's kind of neat to see the little drawings of landmarks on the various continents (although, I'm not sure why the London Eye is shown in England, since Grandpa apparently fell in love with Europe first... implying that he went there a long time ago, long before that landmark would've been built). I would've liked to see more landmarks for certain places like New Zealand (all it gets are a couple of trees) and for Canada to be less stereotyped (apparently, all we have here are trees, moose, and igloos). The opportunity was there to really show the diversity that the continents have to offer; sadly, that opportunity wasn't taken full advantage of.

I think this will probably play better to non-North American audiences. It's not a bad book. It simply has the potential to be kind of confusing due to the different ways people refer to the continents in the Western Hemisphere.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lantana Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Review - Moon Babies

Moon Babies
by Karen Jameson
illustrated by Amy Hevron
Date: 2019
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Just right for fans of Dream Animals, this gorgeously illustrated story-in-verse about baby moons growing up in a celestial nursery is ideal bedtime reading and a perfect new baby gift.

In the starry dark of night, / a secret moon world comes to light. / Make a wish and you just might / visit baby moons tonight. Follow the moon babies on their busy day from waking up in their crescent cradles, to breakfast on the Milky Way, to bundling up for moonwalks, to orbiting the earth in a lunar carousel, and more! And at day's end, watch as the babies finish bathtime with stardust powder, snuggle up with nursery rhymes and lullabies, and finally drift off to sleep. Karen Jameson's charming verse is a joy to read aloud, and Amy Hevron's enchanting illustrations are simply irresistible, making this the perfect read-aloud to send little ones off to dreamland.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm not that impressed with this. Other than the well-flowing rhymes, the book doesn't have a lot going for it: the story is boring, the characters are overly anthropomorphized, and the illustrations are forgettable.

I suppose it would make a decent baby gift, since the only people who are really going to appreciate the text are parents. The little baby moons taken care of by their grannies are just too nonsensical. And referring to a constellation of stars as a "moon dog" could be potentially confusing for older children who are old enough to actually understand the text.

This is fairly underwhelming. It might help children get to sleep (as the meter and rhyme are pretty good, and would probably be soothing if the book were read out loud). But other than that, it's too simple, boring, and stylized for my taste. Your mileage may vary, of course.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.43 out of 5

Review - Moon's First Friends

Moon's First Friends
by Susanna Leonard Hill
illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
Date: 2019
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

From high up in the sky, the Moon has spent her whole life watching Earth and hoping for someone to visit. Dinosaurs roam, pyramids are built, and boats are made, but still no one comes. Will friends ever come visit her?

Commemorate the extraordinary Apollo 11 spaceflight mission with this heartwarming story of the Moon who just wants a friend.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book teaches kids about history and science, framing the story as a wish for friendship by a lonely moon.

Starting billions of years ago, the story follows the Moon as she watches life on Earth evolve. But until humans come on the scene, she doesn't have much hope of getting to say hello to anyone in person.

The story is cute, and accented by sweet illustrations. The narrative itself is simple, and likely intended for much younger readers than the more scientific notes at the end. Those are nice, too, giving a basic overview of NASA's program to reach the Moon, as well as technical information about the rockets and modules used to get there. There might be a bit of a difference in the audience between these two parts of the book, but younger kids who are really interested in this sort of thing can of course "grow into" the more advanced section of the book.

Overall, this is a cute fictionalized tale about a real scientific subject. Kids who are interested in space and astronauts will likely find much to enjoy here.

Quotable moment:


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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - Snow, Glass, Apples

Snow, Glass, Apples
by Neil Gaiman
Date: 1995
Publisher: Neil Gaiman
Reading level: A
Book type: short story
Pages: 56
Format: e-book
Source: The Dreaming

A young princess … her skin as white as snow … her hair as black as coal ... her lips as red as blood … an innocent young girl victimized by her evil stepmother.

Or is she?

Neil Gaiman’s “Snow, Glass, Apples” turns the traditional “Snow White” fairytale on its head and tells the story from the point of view of the “wicked” stepmother, who knows the truth about this less-than-innocent girl and attempts to save the kingdom from her unnatural and monstrous stepdaughter.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

That was oddly disturbing.

It's an interesting take on the "Snow White" story, to be sure. But, for me, it goes just a little too far. The necrophiliac prince is clever, but the subsequent rape of a child (she's only thirteen) pushed this from "disturbing" to "disgusting" for me. (If it had been less graphic and more implied, I might not have been bothered by it as much. But there's too much description, including mention of the little girl being "pounded". What? No... I don't want to read that.)

Twisting the tale around to make the "wicked queen" a sympathetic character was an interesting choice, and it works, for the most part. There is definitely something wrong with the little princess. And while the queen's actions are perfectly logical, given the sort of supernatural creature she was dealing with, I don't think the story really needed--or benefitted--from all the sexual stuff involving the child. Imply it, fine; but don't actually talk about genitalia and stuff oozing from between people's legs.

I would've appreciated a content warning with this one. Because Gaiman has also written for children, there might be confusion and unintentional trauma if people pick up what they think is an innocuous fairy tale retelling.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 ladybugs

Friday, August 23, 2019

Review - Little Juniper Makes It BIG

Little Juniper Makes It BIG
by Aidan Cassie
Date: 2019
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Aidan Cassie, the creator of Sterling, Best Dog Ever, employs her pitch-perfect humor and heartwarming illustrations here again to help little ones love themselves at any size in Little Juniper Makes It BIG.

What Juniper lacks in size, she makes up for in heart. And her heart is dead-set on growing up and getting taller. She's tired of having to reach for the cookie jar or use a stepping stool for the toilet. Everything in Juniper's world seems to be made for adults. Ugh!

Juniper is industrious, however, and builds several silly contraptions to help reach her goals. But it isn't until she makes a fun new friend at school, Clove, who is even smaller than Juniper, that she is able to see her world from a new perspective--and appreciate all sizes, big or small.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I absolutely loved Sterling, Best Dog Ever. It's one of my top picture-book reads of 2019. So I went into Little Juniper Makes It BIG with some trepidation, because I wasn't sure if this second book by Cassie would be anywhere near as good. Could it be? To my great relief, the answer is a resounding, "YES!"

Little Juniper Makes It BIG is about an anthropomorphized raccoon child who finds that everything in her world is too big. She falls in the toilet. She can't reach the sink. She can't loot the cookie jar. Her mother assures her that she will grow, but Juniper is impatient. It isn't until she becomes friends with tiny Clove, a squirrel, that she gets a bit of perspective and realizes that being small can have its advantages.

The story is cute enough, but the illustrations just take it over the top. They're adorable, with just the right amount of humour. And I loved seeing the Hudson's Bay point blanket on Juniper's bed! (It's a nice little touch from this Canadian author.)

I really loved this book, and I can't wait to see what Cassie brings us next!

Quotable moment:


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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.83 out of 5

Review - Kind Mr Bear

Kind Mr Bear
by Steve Smallman
Date: 2019
Publisher: QEB Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Kind Mr Bear is very kind. He does everything he can to help people. But the animals in the forest start to take him for granted, and when he gets sick, he finds himself all alone in his cave. Will anyone help him?

This touching story from award-winning author/illustrator Steve Smallman shows that when it comes to true friends, kindness is something to give as well as receive.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a very simple, very short story about a kindly old bear who looks after everyone else in the forest. But when he gets sick, he finds himself all alone. It isn't until the animals realize how much he's done for them that they realize how good of a friend he's been... and how they can be good friends in return.

Like I said, the story is very simple. Where this book shines is in the adorable illustrations. I really don't have any complaint there.

This being an ARC, though, there are a few problems. There's a typo on the back cover, at least one in the dialogue (which is also unnecessarily italicized), and the parents' guide at the back is for another book (which appears to be another of Smallman's titles, The Not-So-Brave Penguin). If these issues are dealt with, this could be a fairly strong picture book for young children about kindness and not taking our friends for granted.

Thank you to NetGalley and QEB Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.33 out of 5

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Review - There's Room for Everyone

There's Room for Everyone
by Anahita Teymorian
Date: 2019
Publisher: Tiny Owl Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A child grows and discovers the world. As he lies awake at night, he sees there’s enough room in the sky for all the stars and the moon. When he visits the ocean, he sees there is enough room for all the fish, even for the whales. As he grows up, he doesn’t understand why people fight for space. Surely, if we are kinder to one another, there will always be room for everyone? This is a beautiful and profound picture book — a testament of our time and a touching allegory for war and the refugee crisis.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book starts out with a flawed premise that I find difficult to get past. You know how some people argue that overpopulation isn't a problem because you could fit every human being on Earth into the state of Texas? That's basically the idea this book runs with, ignoring the fact that people aren't fighting over space; they're fighting over resources. Otherwise, we'd all be buying up acreage in the Sahara and building our dream homes there.

This flawed premise is taken even further and applied to animals. The book states that there's plenty of room for all the animals, conveniently ignoring the fact that different animals require different habitats. Sure, there's enough space for orangutans in Indonesia, but we keep destroying their habitat. If you destroy an animal's habitat, it might have a difficult (or impossible) time living somewhere else.

The pictures really don't work for me. On the very first spread, there's a picture of the child in his mother's womb. He's either holding a doll or an underdeveloped twin (in either case, it's really odd and kind of creepy). The mother is holding a book entitled How Keep Babys. I don't think I'd trust a book that doesn't even have a coherent title. On the same spread, there are two very phallic images. One is a slipper. The other is... Actually, I have no idea what the other one is. Maybe a sock? It looks like a hairy penis. The rest of the illustrations are plagued by unrealistic proportions and weird perspective issues. In one picture, the boy is staring up at the moon. His arms are so long his hands nearly touch his ankles, and his feet are facing in two different directions! Animals wear jewellery and carry handbags, there's a man on the subway who looks like he has no bones (and, again, his arms are so long his hands are dragging on the floor), and for some reason, the library has floating tables (it's also apparently a place where you're supposed to take off your socks).

The synopsis makes the book sound like a profound statement about war and the refugee crisis, but the premise is so flawed that it doesn't work. While there's technically room for everyone, there aren't always enough resources (or enough resources in the right places)... and that's the real issue driving our current problems. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Owl Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.5 out of 5

Review - Wonder Mole's Scent Costume Party

Wonder Mole's Scent Costume Party
by Pato Mena
Date: 2019
Publisher: nubeOcho
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Moles are blind, so their costume parties are a bit different. They wear perfumes of different animals/characters instead of clothing costumes! Weasel sees her opportunity and tries to sneak into Wonder Mole’s party for a mole dinner. She is wearing the most convincing weasel costume, but will she get caught in the act? A fun and quirky tale that tests your senses and imagination.

(synopsis from NetGalley; see it on Goodreads)

This story has a rather unique premise: when moles have costume parties, they base their costumes largely on scent (since they don't see very well). So when Wonder Mole has a party, all his friends show up wearing various animal scents: giraffe, penguin, frog, horse, etc. A hungry weasel sees an opportunity and sneaks into the party. The moles just think the weasel is another mole in costume, but the weasel has plans to eat a couple of moles for dinner. He joins the celebrations, and even makes it to the final round of the costume competition. But will he be found out before he can satisfy his hunger?

The story is simple and rather silly (how would a mole recognize a rhinoceros costume? Have they been around lots of rhinoceroses?) but the real strength here is the pictures. The weasel is hilarious, and his facial expressions (especially at the end) made me smile. He may have gotten more than he bargained for by sneaking into that party!

While the story is basically just a clever premise wrapped up in a sparse story and some bold illustrations, it kind of works. Kids who are able to just go with the story (and not keep wondering how the moles could recognize all those diverse animal scents, like I was) will probably be amused and entertained. 

Thank you to NetGalley and nubeOcho for providing a digital ARC.

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 - What Wonders Do You See... When You Dream?

What Wonders Do You See... When You Dream?
by Justine Avery
illustrated by Liuba Syrotiuk
Date: 2019
Publisher: Suteki Creative
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 35
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

The day has ended. Hasn't it been splendid? But now, it's time--to be sure--for an entirely different adventure.

This is an invitation to a new nighttime ritual, a going-to-bed book that reminds us all that bedtime can be the most wonderful time of all...

The spellbinding style and alluring rhythm of Justine Avery's writing are brought to life by Liuba Syrotiuk's dreamlike watercolor illustrations to inspire children and adults to set aside the day's excitement and drift into the adventure of sleep itself.

What Wonders Do You See... When You Dream? encourages calm and creativity, relaxation and imagination, and welcomes young and old alike to the blissful, magical time of bedtime.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm not sure what to make of this one. It just seems very uneven all around. Some parts of the rhyming text almost work... but others don't. Some of the illustrations are cute and dreamy... but others seem cluttered and chaotic with no real focus.

The text starts out seeming to want to rhyme, but there are points in the story where the rhymes are dubious at best, and other times when a rhyming scheme is abandoned completely. It almost sounds like beat poetry in a few places, and I'm not sure if kids really like that sort of thing. Also, I can't quite tell what the point of the story is supposed to be. That you go to bed and then have adventures? First of all, I'm not sure that's the best idea when you're trying to wind kids down to get them to sleep. Second, the book implies that only children dream, which is just weird (either that, or children are the only ones who have imaginations, which is also weird). To be honest, I couldn't quite tell if this book was advocating sleep and dreaming or encouraging children to come up with imaginary adventures right at bedtime. I think that could've been clearer.

There's also one page that could have some parents doing a double take if their vocabulary isn't very large, as there are a number of words that sound close to a particular racial slur:

Give the niggles a good wriggle, and stifle every sniggle.

The pictures themselves are kind of pretty at first glance. They're really colourful, the kids' pajamas are adorable (especially the girl's), and there are lots of things to look at. Perhaps too many. I was also thrown a bit by the random words on a couple of the pages, like "SLEEP" and "TOYS". Are they placeholders? Or are they supposed to be part of the illustrations? There's also a page that features creepy eyes under the bed, which could be a bit scary for some readers (it's not really explained what they are, so kids' imaginations might run wild).

Overall, this is a book that has potential, but I don't think it's quite ready just yet. The text (especially the rhyme and meter) needs to be cleaned up a bit, and the overall tone needs to be a little calmer. I don't know how many parents are going to appreciate a book that gets their kids all hyped up about going to bed. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Suteki Creative for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.43 out of 5

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Review - If Pluto Was a Pea

If Pluto Was a Pea
by Gabrielle Prendergast
illustrated by Rebecca Gerlings
Date: 2019
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Join two curious kids as they explore their backyard, and contemplate their place within our vast universe in this adorable picture book that’s full of comparisons to help kids understand cosmic size.

If Pluto was a pea…
the Sun would be like a tent,
Mercury would be a marble,
and Earth would be a golf ball.


Pluto is the smallest planet in our solar system, but how small is small? As it turns out, it only takes the contents of a lunchbox and a backyard to find out.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

All right, kids. Repeat after me:

If Pluto were a pea.
If Pluto were a pea.
If Pluto were a pea.

Got it? Good.

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about the book itself. The premise is actually kind of neat. It's all about comparative sizes. If Pluto were the size of a pea, then the Earth would be the size of a golf ball, Mars would be the size of an acorn, Jupiter would be the size of a beach ball, etc. This is all framed by two kids and their camping trip; each of the objects mentioned is encountered and pictured, along with measurements.

I like the idea. I sort of like the illustrations. But I just can't get past that grammar. It's on pretty much every spread of the book, teaching a new generation of children to avoid the subjunctive verb tense. Pluto can never literally be a pea... and so the correct word here should be "were". If the text simply changed that one word, then this is one book I could wholeheartedly recommend.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Gaia Blues

Gaia Blues
by Gud
Date: 2011
Publisher: Europe Comics
Reading level: A
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 64
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Gaia is the ancient name of our Earth, a place now endangered by growing human pollution. A family of polar bears is about to discover what are the effects of this situation, in a story told entirely with no words.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is depressing and fatalistic. The blurb on the back cover reads: "Will Gaia save herself from the nefarious effects of Mankind? Perhaps there is a solution..." What's Gaia's solution? Melt all the ice and flood the planet. There's just one problem with that: there's not enough ice in the world to do what this book shows.

Yes, humans suck. We've treated this planet like a garbage can. We've polluted the atmosphere. We've mucked up the oceans. We've decimated the forests. We've polluted the land, and then seem surprised when we get sick living in a toxic environment. But what good does a book like this do? There are no suggestions, no solutions. According to this, we just have to get used to living on solar-powered boats. Or maybe on an island of floating garbage.

This just didn't impress me. It didn't shock me, or tell me anything I didn't already know. The fact that it's aimed at adults is even worse; viewed as such, it seems condescending. It's also defeatist, but at the same time judgmental, almost as if the book is scolding the reader for wrecking the planet.

But if you're going to offer just condemnation rather than helpful solutions, you're kind of part of the problem.

Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for providing a digital ARC.

Plot: 1/5
Characters: 1/5
Pace: 2/5
Writing & Editing: n/a
Illustration: 2/5
Originality: 1/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall Rating: 1.29 out of 5 ladybugs

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Review - Hats Are Not for Cats!

Hats Are Not for Cats!
by Jacqueline K. Rayner
Date: 2019
Publisher: Clarion Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Are hats for cats? A big, bossy dog and a determined cat disagree. This funny rhyming romp—with a large cast of cats and hats—leads readers to the perfect conclusion: hats are for everyone!

A big, severe, plaid-hat-wearing dog insists that the small black cat in the red fez shouldn't be wearing a hat—any kind of hat—because hats are for dogs. His patronizing tirade doesn’t convince this cat, however. Defiantly, she wears an assortment of hats, described in the gleeful rhyming text, and brings in other cats to join the protest. The silliness of both text and pictures offers a cheerful take on bossiness and managing conflict, with a win-win resolution.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is just plain goofy... but in a good way. A bossy dog spends much of the narrative telling a cat that cats don't wear hats. And the cat seems to be trying to prove the dog wrong by wearing everything from shower caps to sombreros! Eventually, the cat has had enough and fights back... much to the chagrin of the dog. But there are enough hats for everybody, so this one ends on a happy note.

There's really not much story, and the rhyming text is clunky at times... but the pictures are so silly and fun that you can't help but be sucked in. I'm sure kids will love looking at all the wacky hats that the cat wears throughout the book.

This is a great example of a simple premise done really well. There's not much of a moral, a message, or even a story. But it's got animals wearing goofy hats. What's not to love?

Quotable moment:


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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.71 out of 5