Review - Fly, Fly Again

Fly, Fly Again
by Katie Jaffe & Jennifer Lawson
illustrated by Tammie Lyon
Date: 2020
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Fly, Fly Again is a clever and charming story about Jenny, a child who dreams of flying. After years of tinkering in makeshift laboratories and studying the mechanics of flight with her pet Hawk, Jenny builds a plane--only to crash into the yard of her skateboarding neighbor, Jude, and his pet Cheetah. Working with Jude, Jenny successfully learns how to control and fly her plane. This unique story includes lessons about problem-solving, teamwork, and determination as well as family-friendly information about the basics of aeronautical engineering like lift, drift, and more!

(synopsis from NetGalley; see it on Goodreads)

This is a story about a child who tries to build a flying machine. The premise reminded me a little bit of Rosie Revere, Engineer, although that is a much stronger book. Fly, Fly Again suffers from a number of problems that even its cute illustrations can't really overcome.

The meter of the rhyming text is generally okay. But the writing itself has a number of problems, technical and content-wise. The text, unfortunately, appears to be slapped on the page with little thought to layout; there are often typographic widows, and the text is sometimes difficult to read because of where it's been placed over the illustration. As for the content, I wasn't that impressed. The book appears to be trying to teach about the principles of flight, but those concepts are not always that clear:

We can pitch up or
down,
and roll side to side.
Use rudder to yaw
with a wiggle and slide.

Would kids have a good understanding of pitch, roll, and yaw after reading that? If I didn't already know what those concepts were, I don't think I'd be able to figure it out from that little snippet. Also, I'm not impressed with the talking hawk. The book's going merrily along with a non-fiction sort of vibe, and then the bird, inexplicably, starts talking on one page. (And why do these kids have a hawk and a cheetah as pets? Is that even legal?)

The illustrations are really strong. However, they're kind of marred by the text that's just stuck willy-nilly wherever there's a fairly blank space (but, even then, some words end up lying on top of detailed parts of the picture, making them difficult to read). I would've liked to see a little more thought go into the layout so that the story can make the best use of the cute pictures.

While Fly, Fly Again has a decent premise and strong illustrations, I'm not sure if I'd recommend it. It could definitely use some tweaking on the layout. And taking out the part about the talking bird might give the book a little more credibility as a STEM title.

Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.71 out of 5

Review - My Snowman, Paul

My Snowman, Paul (Snowman Paul)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2018
Publisher: Yosef Lapid
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: Amazon.ca

Are you looking for an award winning picture book just in time for the winter holidays? Snowman Paul is ready for you!

On a snowy winter day, Dan builds himself a nice snowman named Paul. Snowman Paul wants to play and Dan hesitates because his friend Bill is watching and Bill thinks snowmen are dumb... But Paul is no ordinary snowman and he doesn’t take no for an answer. Dan and Paul become best friends and, together, they embark on a series of exciting adventures. Dan’s life will never be the same.

Written in rhyme, the Snowman Paul book series celebrates the magic of winter through the evolving friendship between a young boy and his mischievous snowman. Whimsical and humorous, the stories touch upon serious themes such as friendship, peer pressure, family relationships and values. Vivid and expressive illustrations complement the narrative and bring the stories alive.

Children will fall in love with Snowman Paul! He is energetic and playful, he has big dreams and he is not afraid to be different. If you and your young ones enjoy winter fun, then the Snowman Paul book series will be a wonderful addition to your bookshelf.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I first encountered Snowman Paul when I was gifted a copy of Mother's Day with Snowman Paul by the author. I enjoyed it, so I thought I'd try the first book in the series. While seeing the origins of the sentient snowman was interesting, I can't help but feel that My Snowman, Paul is a bit weaker in some ways. It's shorter, which doesn't leave many pages in which to tell the story (especially given that a number of them are taken up by advertising; only 20 pages are for the actual narrative). Bill, the bully, isn't really used as much as he could have been; he's merely a background presence to be avoided. Dan, the main character, goes outside to build a snowman, the snowman comes alive, the two play a little, and that's it.

The illustrations are charming and work well with the story. I just wish there'd been more of a plot to illustrate.

Overall, this was just okay. As a setup to the rest of the series, it's probably fine. But there's not a lot of plot here. I'd recommend trying one of the other books instead, as they likely have more of a story (Mother's Day with Snowman Paul certainly did).

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.29 out of 5

Review - Most of the Better Natural Things in the World

Most of the Better Natural Things in the World
by Dave Eggers
illustrated by Angel Chang
Date: 2019
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 52
Format: e-book
Source: library

A tiger carries a dining room chair on her back. But why? Where is she going? With just one word per page, in lush, color-rich landscapes, we learn about the features that make up our world: an archipelago, a dune, an isthmus, a lagoon. Across them all, the tiger roams. This enigmatic investigation of our world's most beautiful places from bestselling author Dave Eggers is beautifully illustrated by debut artist Angel Chang.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I know the title makes this book sound like a pretentious literary novel, but it's actually a fairly simple picture book. Even though it features a tiger with a chair strapped to its back, it's really a non-fiction work that shows and explains various types of geographical features.

The bulk of the book is just the illustrations captioned with the terms of the features: steppe, fjord, archipelago, etc. I thought there was even a geographical feature called "dlands", but this seems to be just an error in the e-book (in both the OverDrive and PDF versions). The word is actually "badlands", as we see when we get to the end section, which gives brief explanations for the terms. Personally, I enjoyed this section the most (the book would've been missing something without it), although there are a couple of caveats. First, the definition of "fjord" isn't quite right; although they're formed by glaciers, they aren't always covered in ice. Second, the vocabulary is pretty advanced in some of these definitions, with words like "largely", "plentiful", "dramatic", "scope", "subsoil", and "biomes". I think some of those are beyond the reading level of much of this book's audience (and I don't even know what "subsoil" is)!

The illustrations are certainly colourful, and it's kind of neat to watch the tiger move through the landscapes. Where is it going? What is the chair for? The reader does eventually find out at the cute ending.

Since much of this book's value lies in the end matter, and that end matter isn't entirely suited to the audience, I'm not sure if I'd recommend this one. It does a good job of explaining the various geographical formations... but only if you have the vocabulary to understand what the book is trying to say.

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 - The Cockroach

The Cockroach (Disgusting Critters)
by Elise Gravel
Date: 2020
Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Hilarious illustrated non-fiction about cockroaches perfect for beginning readers. You'll bug out over this perfect pairing of humorous text and funny illustrations about this insect that's been around for over 335 million years!

Fast cockroach facts:
* Distinctive trait: Flat and oval-shaped body
* Diet: Everything! (Especially if it's greasy and sweet...)
* Special talent: Running

The Cockroach covers lifestyle (cockroaches prefer the dark and only come out during the day when their colonies get big enough), anatomy (cockroaches have wings but rarely fly), habitat (they prefer heat to cold), life cycle (a female can give birth to up to 350 babies during her lifetime) and much more. Although silly and off-the-wall, The Cockroach contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book, unlike The Bat from the same author, really does belong in this series called Disgusting Critters. Cockroaches? Ew! This book will teach you more than you ever wanted to know about these stinking, disease-carrying creatures.

In this book, we meet Diane the cockroach. Various facts (sprinkled with a dose of humour) are highlighted throughout the book by Gravel's delightfully simple illustrations. There's plenty to learn here... even if it's stuff you never really wanted to know. Cockroaches fart? Who knew?

I would definitely recommend this one to kids who are interested in bugs. It's a fun and fascinating look at a rather disgusting critter.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books (NY) for providing a digital ARC.

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 - The Bat

The Bat (Disgusting Critters)
by Elise Gravel
Date: 2020
Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Hilarious illustrated nonfiction about bats perfect for beginning readers. Conversational text and silly illustrations will have you up all night reading about the only flying mammal on Earth!

Fast bat facts:
* Distinctive trait: The only flying mammal
* Diet: Insects, fruit and even animal blood
* Special talent: Sleeping upside down

The Bat covers habitat (bats live everywhere except Antarctica!), species (there are over 1,200 kinds of bats), echolocation, hibernation (bats hibernate just like bears!), conservation (don't disturb a sleeping bat!) and much more. Although silly and off-the-wall, The Bat contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a cute non-fiction title for younger readers that's all about bats: what they eat, where they sleep, how they fly, and whether or not we should be afraid of them (we shouldn't). The simple illustrations featuring a fourth wall-breaking bat are fun and informative.

I already knew some of the information in this book, but I still learned quite a few things; kids will likely learn even more. This would be a great title for kids who are interested in the natural world, and in bats in particular. It could be a great non-fiction title to have in the classroom around Halloween, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books (NY) for providing a digital ARC.

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 - Little Red and the Crocodile

Little Red and the Crocodile (Fractured Fairytale #1)
by Suzan Johnson
illustrated by Ayessa C.
Date: 2019
Publisher: True Beginnings Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 30
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Meet Zara! She’s a smart, friendly, and curious girl who loves to visit her Auntie. This is a FRACTURED version of a famous tale. This retelling of Little Red Riding Hood takes the reader to the Louisiana swamps where we meet a new character in Cory the Crocodile. Will Little Red follow her mother’s rules? Will Cory the Croc succeed? Find out what happens when they meet on a journey.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This isn't really what I was expecting. This is a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood" set in Louisiana with a crocodile instead of a wolf. It leaves out the characteristic aspects of the story ("What big teeth you have, Grandmother!") and instead relies on people's familiarity with the original tale to get the somewhat preachy point across. (The message is literally spelled out in the last paragraph. Subtle, it isn't.)

I have a few problems with this. First, there's the writing. It's confusing in places, with dangling participles and unclear pronoun use. Also, there's way too much of it. At times, this is almost like a novel. Pages of text alternate with illustrations, and some of those text pages are full pages. (Others are not, which makes the book seem somewhat uneven.) Second, and perhaps more importantly, there are no crocodiles in Louisiana. Oops!

I was hoping for some twists. After all, this is billed as a "fractured fairytale". I expected a little more than the story simply changing the grandmother to an aunt, the wolf to a crocodile, and the woodcutter/hunter to a park ranger. Everything else is pretty much the same. The Louisiana setting could have been interesting, but it was underused (especially in the illustrations); the potential for a real sense of place wasn't realized. And, you know... there are no crocodiles in Louisiana. (This character could've been changed to an alligator easily and it would've made more sense. He just would've had to have been named something other than Cory to keep up with alliteration.)

Overall, this was a disappointment. I like seeing new twists on fairy tales... but they have to be done well. Changing up the characters a little bit wasn't enough to make me love this.

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

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.33 out of 5

Review - David Jumps In

David Jumps In
by Alan Woo
illustrated by Katty Maurey
Date: 2020
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

This lyrical tale, written in simple free verse, tells how a game with roots in ancient China --- called elastic skip in this story --- helps a boy find his footing on his first day at a new school.

It is David's first day at his brand-new school. He doesn't know anyone. At recess, he stands alone and watches the other children enjoying their activities on the playground, from practicing soccer moves and climbing monkey bars to playing hopscotch and daydreaming in the grass. Bundled deep inside David's pocket is a string of rubber bands, knotted and ready for a game of elastic skip. But will anyone want to try that game? he wonders. Will anyone want to play with him?

With simple, lyrical free verse, Alan Woo echoes the singsong of schoolyard games to draw readers into the deeper levels of this lovely and poignant picture book story. Exploring the themes of friendship, diversity, belonging and inclusion, the book also celebrates David's self-acceptance and comfort with his own unique identity. With roots in ancient China, David's jump-rope game --- called elastic skip in the story, but known by many different names --- is a symbol for multicultural connections, linking David and his new schoolmates through the sharing of his background. Katty Maurey's colorful screen print-style illustrations evoke the seemingly endless space, energy, brightness and noise of recess. And through changing perspective, readers see David's evolution from a small figure lost in the crowd to a larger, central one at the story's close. This book would make an excellent choice for social studies discussions on community or cultures. It also could launch discussions on courage or individuality.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Aside from adding a bit of nostalgia to my day, this book didn't really do much for me. The premise is okay, but the illustrations--while done with an interesting technique--aren't that engaging and the writing is just plain annoying. "Free verse" is one thing... but the text in this just looks like it couldn't be bothered to use proper grammar and punctuation:

When the recess bell rang,
The kids raced into sunshine,
Clamoring for first place
At the swings, slides
And monkey bars.

Trying to turn this into a free-verse picture book was unnecessary; the text would've been fine written as straight prose.

The game the kids play in this book brought back memories. We called it Chinese jumprope, and the huge elastic was part of our playground arsenal (along with regular jumpropes, marbles, and paper fortune tellers). I don't know if kids today still play "elastic skip" (as it's called in the book), but parents who were children a few decades ago will likely get a kick out of seeing one of their beloved childhood games depicted here.

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

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 2.83 out of 5

Review - Fireflies

Fireflies
by Roberto Aliaga
illustrated by Miguel Ángel Díez
Date: 2019
Publisher: Cuento De Luz
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

In the blink of an eye, the fireflies are forced to leave their field and find a safe place where they can make a new home: a light at the end of the way.

But it's a difficult journey, full of seemingly impossible obstacles, which only the love that binds the family together can overcome.

This emotional tale of feelings and identity leads us through the darkness into the light of a better future.

(synopsis from Amazon.ca; see it on Goodreads)

This is a story about refugee fireflies. Forced out of their home, they pack up and move on, following the light as they look for a new place to live. With a gentle repeating narrative, each member of the family realizes they have forgotten something, only to be told by the next-oldest person that what they've lost can be found at their destination. Eventually, though, Grandma wants to give up out of sheer exhaustion. Will little Luke be able to save her and keep the family intact?

The overall premise is interesting. It's clearly a metaphor for the refugee crisis. Using fireflies being pushed out of their park by development is an interesting twist. The illustrations are rather cute.

It is a bit sad to see the fireflies urging each other on with promises of what's to come "at the end of the way" when you realize that each light is something mundane and not very appealing (like the lamp over a Dumpster or the lights of a gas station). The family does eventually find what they were looking for, but the ending is kind of abrupt. So abrupt, in fact, that I almost wondered if the book was missing a page or two.

It's a sweet story about family and hope, and although I wish the ending had been fleshed out a little more, the repetition in the narrative and the pretty pictures make this a fairly strong picture book.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Teddy Bear of the Year

Teddy Bear of the Year
by Vikki VanSickle
illustrated by Sydney Hanson
Date: 2020
Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

The teddy bears' picnic gets a modern twist in this warm and fuzzy picture book about a young teddy bear who learns that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Ollie is a regular bear with a regular job. He listens to his girl's stories about her days, he snuggles her to sleep and he is there waiting when she gets home from school. Just your typical teddy bear stuff. So when he is whisked away to the annual teddy bears' picnic, he feels insignificant compared to the other bears who do daring and daunting things: sleepovers, hospital stays--even a night in the lost and found!

After small talk with a regional stuffing manager, a department of cuddling official and a stitchery inspector; a stop at the snack table; and even some team building activities, it's time for the teddy bear service awards . . . and Ollie feels even more small and unimportant. But he soon learns that it's not just the big things that matter, it's the little things too.

While parents will love the tongue-in-cheek office-party details, kids and parents alike will fall in love with Ollie: a sweet bear who discovers that his love for his girl makes him very special indeed.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Teddy Bear of the Year is a cute story that runs with the idea of the teddy bears' picnic (likely inspired by the old song). Ollie is Amena's teddy bear. He's on duty pretty much all the time. One night, while Amena is asleep, a floating silver boat arrives outside the window. A grizzled old teddy named The Snug whisks Ollie away to a party in the woods. There, they celebrate their accomplishments as teddy bears, highlighting the important functions they perform for their children. After the picnic is over, Ollie is returned to Amena's bedroom, where she is still asleep. He proceeds to tell her all about the party.

The story is pretty cute, and the illustrations are sweet. The writing is some of the strongest I've seen in a picture book in a long time, technically speaking. It's nice to not have to be tripped up by grammar and punctuation issues.

Overall, this is a strong book about a magical gathering of teddy bears. It's a celebration of our favourite toys, with a message about kindness and caring. I'd recommend it to those looking for books about what toys get up to when our backs are turned, as well as to those who enjoy retellings of old stories and/or songs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books (NY) for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - I Dream of a Journey

I Dream of a Journey
by Akiko Miyakoshi
Date: 2020
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Akiko Miyakoshi's enchanting picture book explores how an innkeeper who spends his days at the crossroads of others' journeys secretly longs to have adventures of his own.

People from all over the world come and go at the innkeeper's little hotel. He enjoys meeting them, and many even become his friends. Only, sometimes, when he goes to sleep at night, the desire to travel far away himself wells up inside him. He dreams of packing a big bag and journeying wherever he pleases, from one unfamiliar town to another. He imagines stopping to visit friends and having wonderful and unexpected experiences. The innkeeper continues to go about his daily routine at his hotel, but, someday, he is sure, he will explore the world.

This beautiful picture book from multi-award-winning and internationally best-selling author-illustrator Akiko Miyakoshi thoughtfully speaks to the common experience of longing for something new and exciting, while feeling comfort in the familiar. The artwork's muted colors and soft focus give it a dreamlike quality and, paired with the spare, simple text, invokes wonder, leaving many questions open to interpretation. This book perfectly captures the feeling of wanderlust, of being curious about the world, wanting to see other places and how other people live. It could ignite intriguing conversations with children about what they long to do. Its message is also likely to resonate with adults.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I went into this book with fairly high expectations, given that I've enjoyed the other books I've read by this author. Sadly, I Dream of a Journey just didn't work that well for me. It seems to lack the magic of The Piano Recital and The Tea Party in the Woods that so intrigued me when I read those books. In contrast, I Dream of a Journey seems more like a lament for adults, with a main character dreaming of the day he can leave his responsibilities behind and live the life he truly dreams of. I'm not sure how well that message is going to resonate with kids.

The illustrations are interesting, with black-and-white drawings of the innkeeper's everyday life contrasting with colourful dream sequences. Various anthropomorphized animals make up the cast of characters. The pictures have a certain charm, and will likely appeal to Miyakoshi's fans.

But the story is just a little too melancholy and... well, mature. It seems to be more about missed opportunities, regrets, and living vicariously through those around us. While the book does end on a hopeful note, the whole tone of the story seems just a little too gloomy and adult for the intended audience.

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

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Scaredy Monster

Scaredy Monster (Scaredy Monster #1)
by Meika Hashimoto
illustrated by Steve Lambe
Date: 2020
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 104
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Scaredy Monster has a BIG secret. He's not scary like many monsters—he’s a scaredy monster! From Epic! Originals, Scaredy Monster is an illustrated early reader series about conquering fears and trying new things!

Join Scaredy Monster as he overcomes his fears of losing a tooth, riding a bike, and going to his first sleepover. With some help from Mommy Monster, Scaredy discovers he’s much braver than he thought—and he finds ways to feel safe and happy while doing scary things!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is actually three stories in one. In the first, "Scaredy Monster Loses a Tooth", Scaredy Monster realizes one of his sharp front teeth is loose. He's heard horror stories from other little monsters about losing teeth, so he does everything he can think of to keep that tooth in place. Eventually, though, with some wise words from Mommy Monster, he realizes that losing teeth is just a part of growing up. In the second story, "Scaredy Monster Rides a Bike", the titular hero buys a bike from a yard sale. The only problem is, he doesn't really know how to ride it. His first attempt ends disastrously, and he becomes too scared to try again. But with Mommy Monster's help, he finds the courage to ride his bike again... and have a lot of fun! In the third story, "Scaredy Monster and the Slumber Party", Scaredy Monster goes to a sleepover at Timmy Monster's house. He thinks he's packed everything, but Teddy Monster somehow gets left behind. Scaredy Monster doesn't notice until he's frightened by a movie, and then when he can't find his toy, he wants to go home. Mommy Monster comes to the rescue once more, bringing Teddy Monster with her. Reassured, Scaredy Monster decides to stay and have fun with his friends.

It might look like Mommy Monster is rushing in to solve all of Scaredy Monster's problems, but really, she's just there to offer words of advice, to bandage scraped knees, and to reassure Scaredy Monster when he needs some encouragement. Scaredy Monster is always the one who makes the choice in the end to be brave, which is a nice message.

The illustrations are pretty cute. The monsters are not scary at all; in fact, some of them look rather silly. The pictures are all colourful and appealing, with nice little touches of detail throughout.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. Despite how it might appear given the length of the book, these are stories for very young children. As such, they would work as good bedtime reads (but probably only one at a time).

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

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 - A Stopwatch from Grampa

A Stopwatch from Grampa
by Loretta Garbutt
illustrated by Carmen Mok
Date: 2020
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A child inherits a treasured stopwatch that belonged to a beloved grandparent in this touching story of loss that explores the stages of grief with sensitivity and wisdom.

"When summer started, I got Grampa's stopwatch," a small child says. "I don't want his stopwatch. I want him." Grampa used to time everything. A race to the end of the street and back: 24 seconds. Eating bubblegum ice cream: 1 minute, 58 seconds. But now, Grampa's gone. "There are no more Grampa minutes, Grampa seconds," the child says. "Time just stops." As the seasons come and go, the stopwatch becomes a cherished symbol of remembrance, and the child uses it to carry on Grampa's favorite pastimes and traditions.

Loretta Garbutt uses subtlety and sensitivity to explore the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) in this moving picture book story of loss. It features a gender-neutral main character (no first name or pronouns are given) making the story universally relatable. This is a perfect choice for fostering discussions with children about their emotions, particularly the feeling of loss. It also offers a poignant representation of an intergenerational relationship between a grandfather and grandchild. Carmen Mok's expressive and thoughtful illustrations employ a limited color palette to convey the character's emotional trajectory. There are curriculum applications here in social-emotional development as well as character education lessons in caring and resilience.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a sweet story about memories and coming to terms with grief.

A child used to play with their grandfather, timing everything with his stopwatch. But now Grampa is gone, and all that's left is the stopwatch. The child doesn't want anything to do with it, and buries it in a drawer. They feel sad, and don't want to do the things that used to make them happy. One day, after some time has passed, they find the stopwatch and start to use it to time things. They remember the fun they had, and use the stopwatch as a way to honour their memory of Grampa.

The story is simple, but poignant. The illustrations, done in a limited colour palette, capture the moods of the main character perfectly. (The narrator is drawn as rather unisex--intentionally, I suspect--so they're easily relatable.)

Overall, this is a nice picture book about grief, in the same vein as My Big, Dumb Invisible Dragon by Angie Lucas or The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden by Heather Smith.

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

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 - If...

If...: 25th Anniversary Edition
by Sarah Perry
Date: 2020
Publisher: Getty Publications
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Take a fantastical journey where anything can happen: leaves turn into fish, cats fly with wings, humans have tails, and dreams become visible

First published in 1995, Sarah Perry’s delightful picture book of “surreal possibilities” was the Getty’s first children’s title and has remained a beloved backlist classic over the course of two decades. Perry’s magical watercolors conjure up a world of limitless possibilities. Children of all ages will enjoy this romp through an inspiring, imaginative world. Reissued to celebrate a remarkable book’s 25th anniversary, this enhanced, expanded, and enlivened edition will appeal to a brand-new generation of readers.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is definitely surreal, as advertised. If... is a collection of fanciful artwork that invites readers to imagine outlandish possibilities. Each picture is preceded by a simple "if" statement. The reader is then left to look at the picture and elaborate on the imaginative possibilities.

Some of the pictures are just a little too weird (If toes were teeth... kind of grossed me out), but many really do make the reader think. This could be a great book in a classroom setting if used as a catalyst for creative writing projects. The illustrations--subject matter aside--are all well done.

I think I probably would recommend this one, especially to creative readers who are looking for jumping-off points for their own stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Getty Publications for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.33 out of 5

Review - Coding Capers: Luci and the Missing Robot

Coding Capers: Luci and the Missing Robot
by Angela Cleveland & Tamara Zentic
illustrated by Juan Manuel Moreno
Date: 2019
Publisher: National Center for Youth Issues
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Join Luci and her friends as they go on an adventure to find a missing robot! In the process they learn the foundational concepts of coding, the increasing capabilities of technology, and the power of persistence.

Was it just a dream?! Luci wakes up after dreaming about robots only to learn that her teacher has a robot emergency at school! The class robot has disappeared, and the students must decipher codes to locate it, reprogram it, and return it.

We huddled together.

“Hurry! Read the card!”

Go to the gym where you’ll find a maze,
Up and down and then sideways,
Over and over with your group,
Not a pattern, but a ______.

This STEM-friendly tale takes children on a fun game of hide and seek that teaches coding terminology and how technology and computer science work together to create and manage so many of the things we use in our daily lives.

With a little ingenuity and a lot of perseverance, Luci and her friends follow the clues and end up with a surprise that will allow each of them to help others and inspire the next generation of leaders.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

My feelings about this one are all over the place. A good premise, weak writing, and passable illustrations combine to make a book that I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable recommending... even though the overall message is fine.

Luci is paired up with her friends to find a robot that their teacher has hidden somewhere in the school. They follow clues--learning about three different coding concepts along the way--until they reach their goal.

A trend I've noticed in self-published picture books lately is a tendency to italicize dialogue. This book does that... but only with the speech that's not spoken by the main character. There are grammar and punctuation issues throughout, and the writing really could have used some more speech tags.

As for the story, it's kind of unrealistic, and a bit confusing in places. There's a sort of jump after Luci and her friends find the third clue, and suddenly they're in the science lab. We don't know what the clue was that sent them there (I'm guessing it was the room number, but the text doesn't really say). This is a bit disappointing, because the puzzle is such a big part of the story; it's a shame it ended up glossed over. The ending is also kind of ridiculous, with the kids each receiving their very own robot to program. Luci plans on using hers to basically act as a service dog for her blind grandmother. I don't know if technology is there yet... but I'm fairly certain it wouldn't be found in a cheap robot won as a prize!

That said, I do like the coding aspect. Three concepts--algorithms, loops, and conditionals--are explained clearly through the narrative in an easy-to-understand way. So that's probably the strongest part of the book.

Overall, this is a book with a good premise that could use some work on the technical side, ironically enough. If the writing were cleaned up and made clearer (and the puzzle solution explained), this could be a good book for getting kids interested in learning how to code. I would, however, be sure to explain to kids that they shouldn't expect to be able to program a robot to act as a service animal.

Thank you to NetGalley and National Center for Youth Issues for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.5 out of 5

Review - What Grew in Larry's Garden

What Grew in Larry's Garden
by Laura Alary
illustrated by Kass Reich
Date: 2020
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A girl and her neighbor grow a community from their garden.

Grace thinks Larry's garden is one of the wonders of the world. In his tiny backyard next door to hers, Larry grows the most extraordinary vegetables. Grace loves helping him - watering and weeding, planting and pruning, hoeing and harvesting. And whenever there's a problem - like bugs burrowing into the carrots or slugs chewing the lettuce - Grace and Larry solve it together. Grace soon learns that Larry has big plans for the vegetables in his special garden. And when that garden faces its biggest problem yet, Grace follows Larry's example to find the perfect solution.

Inspired by a real person, author Laura Alary has written a heartwarming story about how amazing things can grow when you tend your garden with kindness. In this case, Larry, a teacher, is helping to grow community. He has his students grow tomato plants that they then give away to their neighbors with personal notes. It offers a powerful lesson on the influence of generosity, while encouraging young children to become community activists in their own neighborhoods. This uplifting story fosters an appreciation for neighborhood and community at a time when that sentiment seems to be eroding. The book also contains an environmental message about harvesting your own vegetables and, with Kass Reich's colorful illustrations, works beautifully for a life science exploration of growth and changes in plants. There are character education connections to caring, cooperation, empathy, kindness, perseverance and teamwork.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a nice little book, based on a real person, about gardening, kindness, and community.

I'm not sure about the storyline involving the neighbour and his fence (it looks like that part was made up); focusing on Larry and his tomato project could've been enough. To me, it just seemed like the neighbour came around awfully fast, and it added an unrealistic element to the plot.

The overall message is nice, though, and Larry's tomato project is kind of cool. We need more teachers like this.

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

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 - The True Story of Zippy Chippy

The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse that Couldn't
by Artie Bennett
illustrated by Dave Szalay
Date: 2020
Publisher: NorthSouth Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A true story about the famed racehorse who lost every race but won everyone's heart. The love Zippy inspired, even when he lost, resonates with the contemporary message that whether you win or you lose-you are enough!

The bell rings and they’re off! Zippy the racehorse—descended from legends—is destined for glory, but when the other horses bolt from the gate... Zippy stands still. When people try to pet him... he bites their hats and escapes from his stall. What’s an owner to do? Keep on trying! After all, Zippy has become part of Felix’s family—and a close friend of his little daughter. And after 100 straight losses, Zippy shows everyone that—win, lose, or draw—it takes guts to compete and that you can lose and lose and still be a winner.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I usually enjoy animal biographies more than I did this one. I think part of the problem is that I felt like I was missing something for much of the time I was reading.

Zippy Chippy was one of the worst racehorses of all time. He never won a single race in his long career. But his owner kept pushing him to keep trying. Now, he holds a special place in people's hearts as a lovable loser.

Part of the problem I have with the story is that it makes it sound like Zippy Chippy didn't want to be racing at all. He'd bite his trainers, buck people off, and even just stand still after the starting bell. So Felix's perseverance started to seem like animal exploitation. Then, I was taken aback when the book referred to racing as Zippy Chippy's "passion". He apparently got depressed when he was first retired. This doesn't seem to jibe with what came before; if he really loved racing so much, why didn't he run? (In fact, he did. The author's note at the end states that he actually had a sizable number of second- and third-place finishes. The first part of the book, unfortunately, makes the horse look like he's so stubborn he refuses to run at all.)

Zippy Chippy sounds like quite the character, and I'm happy to hear that he's enjoying his retirement and celebrity at a sanctuary in New York. I just wish the book had been a little clearer about his career in the actual text; having to rely on the author's note at the end to get a clear picture of his life is a bit disappointing.

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

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.83 out of 5

Review - Christmas in 100 Words

Christmas in 100 Words
illustrated by Sophie Beer
Date: 2019
Publisher: words & pictures
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Tree, star, snowflake, elf, chimney, cookies, merry … introduce your little ones to words of the festive season with cute characters, bright colors, and playful scenes.

From decorating the tree to Christmas dinner and candy cane to sleigh, this charming book introduces a range of different holiday scenes and objects. Along with the seasonal items, each scene contains one feeling word and one action word to spot, such as cheerful and ice skating—color-coded circles point them out. With a glitter-accented cover that adds visual and tactile interest, this fun book inspires a deeper knowledge of the world, introduces language skills, and supports emotional intelligence.

An original, contemporary take on teaching first words, the My World in 100 Words series of board books helps children ages 1–3 boost vocabulary, engage with the world around them, and become familiar with specific subjects. With bright, playful illustrations from Sophie Beer, each book explores a different theme, including starting kindergarten, the garden, and the seaside. With 10 words per page and variation between full scenes and visual lists, there’s plenty for children to look at and enjoy.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The synopsis tells you more than you'll ever need to know about this short book of words. It's okay for very young children, I guess, but I found the illustrations a bit boring and I'm in no hurry to look at the book again. Setting off the action and emotion words is a nice touch, although I don't know if children from 1 to 3 are really ready to grasp the concept of verbs and mental states. My favourite page was probably the one showing Christmas foods from around the world; it might have been nice to see more regional variation in the rest of the book.

This was just okay. Decent, but nothing special.

Thank you to NetGalley and words & pictures for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.4 out of 5

Review - Hurry Home, Harriet

Hurry Home, Harriet
by Lucy Barnard
Date: 2020
Publisher: QEB Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Oh no, no one has remembered Harriet's birthday!

On a trip to town, Harriet gets upset when no one wishes her a happy birthday. She hurries home to celebrate by herself, bumping into friends all too busy to talk to her. When she gets home, she is shocked to see all of her friends there in a surprise birthday party!

A touching story about friendship and kindness that would make a lovely birthday gift.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is basically a story about an entitled bunny who gets upset when it appears nobody remembers her birthday.

Of course, anyone over the age of six will likely realize that her friends are planning a surprise party. I do like the way Harriet, in spite of her disappointment, still attempts to be a kind friend. And the pictures are fairly cute, if a bit simple.

I'm not a fan of the discussion section at the back. Rather than reinforcing the idea that everyone's entitled to a birthday party (and pitting kids against each other to see who can plan the best one), a more interesting discussion might be about how not everyone around the world even celebrates their birthday, and the reasons for that.

This is just an okay picture book for me. Harriet's attitude kind of bothered me, but kids who live for birthday parties will probably be able to relate to her "problem".

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

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.5 out of 5

Review - Going Up!

Going Up!
by Sherry J. Lee
illustrated by Charlene Chua
Date: 2020
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

An elevator ride to a birthday party turns into a shared experience bursting with joy in this multicultural story about community, togetherness and the special feeling of belonging.

Today is Olive's birthday party, and Sophie and her dad have baked cookies. Sophie's dad holds the platter so Sophie can push the elevator button for the tenth floor. But on the way up, the elevator stops to let the Santucci brothers get on. Then on the next floor, Vicky, Babs and their dog, Norman, get in. And as the elevator ascends, it keeps stopping, and more neighbors squeeze in to the crowded space: the Habibs, the Flores family, Mr. Kwan, Vi Tweedle with her Chihuahua, Minx. Everyone is going to the party!

Playfully combining the excitement and anticipation of a party with children's universal love of riding in elevators, Sherry J. Lee's picture book story is ultimately about community and a sense of belonging. With characters from many cultural backgrounds, it showcases the everyday diversity that many urban children experience. Charlene Chua's illustrations provide loads of funny details and visual narratives that aren't in the text, making for a multilayered reading experience. The book's tall, narrow trim size adds to the effect of the rising elevator.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This slightly claustrophobic picture book is rather cute, showing a community of friends all gathering together for a birthday party as the elevator takes them up to the tenth floor.

The story is told by Sophie, who goes to the party with her dad. They live on the first floor, so they take their cookies that they baked and get into the elevator. As they stop at each floor, more and more friends get on. And they're a diverse bunch. There's the Santucci brothers, who look like aging rockers (but who also love cats and knitting); the Habib family, whose grandkids are dressed as superheroes and carrying a South Asian snack to share; the Flores family, which includes an adolescent boy in a tutu; and even Arnie, who plays the bass and wears orange Crocs. Ignoring the weight limit on the elevator, the group eventually makes it up to the tenth floor and the party begins!

There are lots of cute details in the illustrations. This is a book that you'll probably want to look at more than once, just to make sure you see everything. The story is simple, but the concept is done quite well.

Overall, this is a pleasant picture book with a diverse cast and a joyous premise. Who doesn't love a party with friends?

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for providing a digital ARC.

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 - Grasshopper Eye and the Lost Vial

Grasshopper Eye and the Lost Vial
by Michelle Jester
illustrated by Larry Jester
Date: 2019
Publisher: Yellow Duckie Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 44
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

When the villagers first noticed that they each had one item missing from their homes, they set out on a journey that helped them find something far more valuable. Join Grasshopper Eye on a journey through friendships, feeling, and fitting in.

This book is featured in the contemporary fiction novel by Michelle Jester, Two Thousand Lines, however this is a stand-alone book for children.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Grasshopper Eye and the Lost Vial appears to be a sort of meta picture-book offering, similar to Elena Ferrante's The Beach at Night. This story apparently featured in one of Jester's adult novels. Unlike The Beach at Night, Grasshopper Eye and the Lost Vial is actually suitable for children... but I'm not sure I would recommend it to them.

The story itself, about a grasshopper who makes vials for the villagers to keep their tears in, ends up being pedantic and preachy, and ultimately a bit nonsensical. Grasshopper Eye makes a special glass vial (illustrated with a photo, which looks odd in conjunction with the hand-drawn doodles of the characters) for each villager. Whenever they cry, they store their tears in the vial. One day, a villainous ogre by the name of BugBear Opie becomes jealous and steals all the vials. Then the villagers can't cry. They resort to getting angry instead. Eventually, the vials are found, except for one: Grasshopper Eye's. The other villagers offer him their vials to use, and he's so touched that he cries. The ogre cries, too, and apologizes... and then everyone cries. Grasshopper Eye makes a vial for the ogre, even though he doesn't need one anymore (wait... what?).

I think the narrative lost me at the end. The story shows the characters crying for various reasons, and even explicitly talks about the importance of crying... but then it implies the ogre doesn't need a vial because he's happy. What about happy tears? Grateful tears? Do those not get bottled? And why do these characters need a special vial in order to cry in the first place?

There's a Bible quote at the back about weeping and loving people around you. I guess that was what inspired the story. The sentiment is nice, but the execution is pretty flawed. The writing almost made me wonder if the book were written by a child (the language is stilted and sort of reads like a kid trying to impress their teacher). The illustrations, as I mentioned before, are a strange mix of drawings and photographs. I've seen that work in other books, but it doesn't really work here.

Kids might like this, but I have my doubts as to whether readers who enjoyed the novel that this book appears in are going to be all that impressed.

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

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 - Simon Steps Into the Ring

Simon Steps Into the Ring
by Marylène Monette
illustrated by Marion Arbona
Date: 2020
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Simon tries to be kind. But sometimes he loses his temper and acts without thinking, which almost always gets him into trouble. As Simon begins to understand his outbursts, he imagines himself in a boxing ring with his emotions. Can he come out on top and learn how to acknowledge his feelings?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a story about emotional regulation. I'm not sure if the translation is just clumsy, but it doesn't really seem like a book for children; at times, the vocabulary is pretty advanced, especially given the simplistic way the main character is urged to deal with his feelings.

Simon gets in trouble at school. He imagines he has lots of little Simons inside of him, each fighting the other for supremacy. His uncle tells him that they're all important, but that they each have their place. What Simon really needs is a referee.

I'm not a fan of framing the whole emotional struggle with a violent metaphor. All of Simon's emotional states are represented by little boxers... but this doesn't make a lot of sense for some of the calmer, kinder Simons. I'm also a bit put off by encouraging kids to segment their personalities like this; the discussion at the end tells kids to think about their own little versions of themselves. Is it healthy to dissociate like this? Or even blame bad behaviour on some personified aspect of the personality? I'm not a psychological expert, but this just doesn't sit quite right with me.

I thought the illustrations looked familiar, and I realized I'd seen Marion Arbona's work before in Sam's Pet Temper by Sangeeta Bhadra. That's actually a much better look at emotional regulation in kids, and I think I would probably recommend that book over this one for this particular topic.

Overall, this didn't quite work for me. I don't know if all kids are going to be able to imagine all these separate aspects of themselves, and I'm not even sure if they should. Even if they do, I think some are going to struggle with assigning the pugilistic characteristics of a boxer to aspects of the personality like "Perfect Brother", "Good Student", and "Joyous".

Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - Boxitects

Boxitects
by Kim Smith
Date: 2019
Publisher: Clarion Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

A STEAM-centered, adorably illustrated picture book about Meg, a brilliant and creative boxitect who creates extraordinary things out of ordinary cardboard boxes.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is an okay story about competition between two rivals. It also encourages kids to try their hand at building things with cardboard boxes.

Meg is a boxitect, meaning that she likes to build things with cardboard boxes. Her mother, seeing her talent, sends her to Maker School. Meg is the only boxitect there among the blanketeers, spaghetti-tects, tin-foilers, and egg-cartoneers... for a while. Then Simone shows up, and the battle of the boxitects begins. On the day of the Maker Match, when they're supposed to be working together, they're actually competing with one another. Eventually, their creation, weighed down by ridiculous amounts of cardboard, collapses. The girls have to think fast and work together to salvage their project.

The story is okay, although I don't know if it's a good idea to be teaching kids there's such a thing as "Maker School"; it sounds totally fun, and some readers are bound to be disappointed to find out it's not real. There are some instructions at the back for building a couple of cardboard projects, as well as a simple experiment that shows kids how corrugated cardboard gets its strength (unfortunately, the pictures show Meg holding the paper the wrong way, so it's not going to work; she needs to turn it 90 degrees).

This book might find an audience among kids who already like to make things. I probably would've liked it when I was little... although I would've been disappointed to find out I wouldn't be going to Maker School.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5

Review - The Berenstain Bears: No Girls Allowed

The Berenstain Bears: No Girls Allowed
by Stan & Jan Berenstain
Date: 1986
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Sister Bear can run faster, climb higher, and hit a ball farther than the boys, and she gloats over it. So Brother Bear and his friends build a clubhouse for boys only, and Sister is hopping mad! She plans a honey of a revenge in this funny and thoughtful book.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I may have encountered this book in my childhood (my younger sister had quite a Berenstain Bears collection). Back in the 1980s, this was probably a very forward-thinking book. The overall message is good. Unfortunately, some of the details are kind of dated, and I think parents could probably find books with more modern, relevant messages.

Sister likes to tag along with Brother and his friends. As she gets older, she starts to be able to outrun and outplay them. And she's not subtle about it when she wins. So Brother and his friends make a secret clubhouse and decree that no girls are allowed. Sister thinks this is unfair, and her parents agree. So she starts her own club with all the girls from the neighbourhood that have been left out. She wants to disallow boys, but Mama gently dissuades her. Eventually, the cubs all make up and share.

I think part of the problem I'm having with this is that the boys-versus-girls thing is really overdone... when it doesn't need to be. The thing that probably rankles these boys so much about Sister winning isn't so much that she's a girl... but that she's younger than them. If this story had focused more on the sibling rivalry aspect rather than making it a battle of the sexes, it might seem a little more up to date. Gender binary roles are heavily pushed, too (baseball, marbles, running, and climbing trees are all considered "boy" activities, while jumping rope, picking flowers, tea parties, and reading books are considered "girl" activities). And there's some casual racism thrown in there, too, with Sister's victory celebrations (she resorts to "war whoops" to gloat). All of these things together would make me hesitant to give this book to a modern child.

This may have been fine for teaching my generation that girls can do the same things boys can do, but the lesson doesn't really go far enough and the book still promotes rigid gender stereotypes. Maybe that's part of the reason why women are still fighting for equal rights in our world: books from previous generations didn't go far enough. (If you're a child of the '80s or '90s, read this one for the nostalgia factor. Otherwise, I'd recommend treading with caution.)

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Margot and the Moon Landing

Margot and the Moon Landing
by A. C. Fitzpatrick
illustrated by Erika Medina
Date: 2020
Publisher: Annick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A universal story about speaking, listening and being heard.

Margot loves space. Astronauts, the stars, and especially the moon landing. So she can’t understand why all of her attempts to communicate her passion fall on disinterested ears. Her mom is patient but distracted; her classmates would rather play kickball; and her teacher just wants her to focus and pay attention in class. Even so, Margot wishes she never had to talk about anything but space ever again.

When she wakes up one morning and discovers she can only recite Neil Armstrong’s famous speech from the moon landing, Margot realizes she has an even bigger problem. How can Margot get everyone to pay attention and—more importantly—to hear what she’s really trying to say? This powerful picture book debut plays with themes of listening and communication to highlight the importance of a space of one’s own, no matter what your passion may be.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm actually a little bit surprised by this one... and not in a good way. While the underlying ideas about listening are fine, there's another way this book can be interpreted, and it leads to some very uncomfortable messages.

Margot is obsessed with space. All she wants to do is read about it. When she's not reading about it, she's talking about it... even if it's not an appropriate time or place. One day, she wakes up and the only things that come out of her mouth are parts of Neil Armstrong's famous speech. Nobody thinks anything's wrong, because she's always talked about space before, anyway. She goes home, frustrated, and writes out all her worries on her wall (even though she knows that's wrong). Her mother reads what she's written, her normal words come back, and her mother encourages her love of spacey things.

What I'm having a problem with here is that Margot could be interpreted as being on the autism spectrum. She has a fixed, narrow interest. She doesn't want to do anything else; when the other kids try to engage her in other activities, she just blurts space facts at them. She doesn't seem to be able to read other people or gauge situations, and tries to share her space facts at inappropriate times (like during a kickball game, or when she's called on in math class). She's aware she's different, but she doesn't seem to know what to do about it. Now, it wouldn't be a problem if Margot were autistic... except for the fact that the story seems to punish her for it. Through some supernatural justice system, she's condemned to repeat Neil Armstrong's speech as punishment for... what? Being obsessed with space? This punishment doesn't really serve to teach her anything (she's still just as obsessed with space at the end of the book, and presumably annoying her classmates with random facts). I almost got the feeling that there's supposed to be a "boy who cried wolf" thing going on here. But that's rather unfair, given the way the character is set up. In essence, Margot ends up being punished for her autism.

The pictures are fine, but I just don't feel right about the story. If it had taken a slightly different approach and perhaps addressed the elephant in the room, it might have worked better. Instead, we're left with a story about a girl who's punished for something that's out of her control. (Had she shown an ability to rein in her perseveration, I might have viewed her character a little differently. But since she seemed incapable of doing so, it felt unfair for her to be punished for it.)

I'm afraid I can't recommend this one.

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

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - I Got You a Present!

I Got You a Present!
by Mike Erskine-Kellie & Susan McLennan
illustrated by Cale Atkinson
Date: 2020
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A quest for the perfect birthday present leads to ever grander (and ever more imperfect) gift ideas in this clever metafiction story that's hilarious any day of the year.

"I wanted to get you the greatest present ever," our narrator tells us. But somehow, none of the best ideas seemed to pan out. First, there was the pair of hand-knitted birthday socks (have you ever tried knitting birthday socks?). Then, the ten-scoop ice cream cone (a disaster to carry), the magic kit (it disappeared, just like magic!), the apple juice-fueled jet pack (still a few kinks to work out) and the dinosaur (I couldn't find one anywhere). And now, time has run out, and our narrator still has nothing to give. Or, maybe there is something after all. Something that contains all those awesome gifts in one. Something that can be enjoyed again and again, just by turning the pages...

In their debut picture book, Emmy Award-winning children's television writers Mike Erskine-Kellie and Susan McLennan have created a laugh-out-loud story filled with heart. The metafiction approach (speaking directly to "you") and fun story together with the antic exuberance of Cale Atkinson's bold and colorful illustrations make this a lively read-aloud that will keep even the youngest children engaged. Though a book about finding the perfect birthday present is itself the perfect birthday present, it's also simply a delightful read for any time of year. It also offers an excellent character education lesson on perseverance.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

At first glance, I thought this was a story about an obnoxious lying duck. But then I got to the end and... I get it.

The narrator, a duck, tells you (the reader) all about how they set out to get you the perfect gift. They tried making things. They tried buying things. But something always went wrong. No matter how simple or outlandish the gift, there's always an excuse as to why it isn't being given to you. Until... there's a meta twist. I won't spoil it.

The illustrations by Cale Atkinson, whose work I previously encountered in Sir Simon: Super Scarer, are fine, with a somewhat retro style and cute details throughout. I'm not sure if I really love them, but they do work well to illustrate the story.

Overall, this is an interesting twist on a picture book that focuses on birthdays and gift-giving... with an unexpected ending that ties everything together.

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

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5