Review - Princess Kevin

Princess Kevin
by Michaël Escoffier
illustrated by Roland Garrigue
Date: 2020
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

This year, Kevin is going to the school costume show as a princess. His costume is perfect but he knows that the best costumes are authentic. So he is outraged that none of the knights will partner with him and complete the look. Things don't go quite a smoothly as he planned. Next year, there is only one thing for it. He will just have to be something even more fabulous.

This is a heartwarming and funny story about imagination, diversity and persevering at expressing your fabulous self.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Kevin really doesn't care what the other kids think. He just wants to be a princess for his school's costume show. He comes up with a great princess costume, complete with high heels and makeup. There's just one thing missing: a knight. But none of the boys want to be Kevin's knight in shining armour. In fact, the only kid who seems to "get" Kevin is Chloe, who is supposedly dressed as a dragon (but looks more like a sock thanks to her dad's lack of costuming abilities). By the end of the day, Kevin's kind of had enough of being a princess, but not because of what anyone else thinks. Who thought high heels were a good idea, anyway? So when it comes time to think of what he's going to be the next year, he decides to keep it simple (while still apparently not giving a hoot what anyone else thinks).

Themes of bravery, friendship, and smashing gender norms are woven throughout this amusing story about a little boy who just wants to be a princess. After all, he reasons, girls can be cowboys and knights... so why can't he be a princess? It's probably pretty rare to find a kid who's either this oblivious or who just doesn't care about the opinions of others... but I kind of like that he's written that way. It shows kids that it's okay to dress up in the costume you really like, even if some of the other kids don't understand your choice.

The illustrations are amusing. Chloe really does look like a sock. And it's fun to see all the other costumes that Kevin's class is wearing.

This is definitely a book to check out if you're looking for titles that feature themes of diversity and standing up for yourself. It will probably also find an audience with readers who love dressing up as much as Kevin does.

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

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 - Fix That Clock

Fix That Clock
by Kurt Cyrus
Date: 2019
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

A construction crew rebuilds a rickety old clock tower that has become home to wild animals in this picture book for fans of Sheep in a Jeep and Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.

An underlying message of cooperation and conservation drives this rollicking introduction to counting and shapes.

The old clock tower used to stand tall and proud. Now, it's rusty, dusty, moldy, musty. A construction team decides to turn zigzags into squares and get the clock chiming again. But wait: what will happen to all the animals who have made this dilapidated clock their home?

Nothing can't be fixed and everyone is welcome in Fix That Clock, a celebration of hard work, compassion, and collaboration.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Fix That Clock is a really fun little book. It incorporates rhymes, numbers, shapes, and onomatopoeia to create a cute story about the repair of a decrepit clock tower.

The old clock tower is falling apart. So three builders come along to fix it. As they repair and replace, they dislodge a number of critters that have made their homes in the tower. But these are kindhearted folks, and they take the animals into account when they finish the job. The book ends on a sweet note.

The meter of the rhyming text is pretty strong. There are sections where onomatopoeia is incorporated into the text, which would make it a treat to read aloud. The illustrations are lovely and full of detail. I really liked seeing all the little animals as a reminder that the humans were, essentially, disrupting a habitat; I liked seeing a compassionate resolution to this issue even more.

Overall, this is a fun book that would appeal to kids who like rhyming picture books, books about building, or books about animal habitats.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.43 out of 5

Review - Orcas of the Salish Sea

Orcas of the Salish Sea
by Mark Leiren-Young
Date: 2020
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Meet Onyx and the orcas of J pod, the world's most famous whales. Illustrated with stunning photos, this picture book introduces young readers to the orcas humans first fell in love with. The members of J pod live in the Salish Sea, off the coast of Washington and British Columbia. Moby Doll was the first orca ever displayed in captivity, Granny was the oldest orca known to humanity, and Scarlet was the orca humans fought to save.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This poorly titled non-fiction book for kids lacks focus and could be potentially confusing for some readers.

Orcas of the Salish Sea looks like it's supposed to be about the southern resident killer whales who live off the coast of British Columbia and Washington State. That's what one would logically assume from the title and from the synopsis. However, although it does have some information about these orcas, the book then loses the thread and goes on to talk about other orcas around the world.

Why is this a problem? Because the southern residents are a distinct group. They are fish-eating orcas, as opposed to another group that swims the local waters who eat other marine mammals. At one point in the book, the text states:

Because some types of orcas hunt other whales for food, orcas like Onyx used to be called killer whales.

While this is technically true, it's confusing to imply that orcas "like Onyx" were called killer whales because of their diets... because Onyx is part of the fish-eating group. I noticed this confusing lack of focus early on in the book, where a Bigg's killer whale was pictured hunting a porpoise. Bigg's killer whales are not part of the southern resident population, which was what the book was talking about at that point.

The diets of orcas around the world are explained, but only in the latter part of the book, at which point readers may have already made some incorrect inferences. I would expect better from a book written by an orca expert!

The photos are nice and the text is easy to read. But I'm not sure why the original focus--the southern resident orcas--wasn't kept throughout the book. Surely there are plenty of stories about these whales that could've been told without having to resort to general orca information.

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

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.67 out of 5

Review - Bon Voyage, Mister Rodriguez

Bon Voyage, Mister Rodriguez
by Christiane Duchesne
illustrated by François Thisdale
Date: 2019
Publisher: Pajama Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A growing number of curious children discover their village’s most enigmatic figure has an unexpectedly beautiful job to do.

Every afternoon at four o’clock, Mister Rodriguez steps out of a narrow laneway and strolls through the street. The village children watch him go, ever more curious about the enigmatic old man with the bushy white mustache. Some say they’ve seen him float above the ground. Others say he played a piano without touching a single key. The truth, though, is more beautiful than any of the children could have imagined. Author Christiane Duchesne and TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award-winning illustrator François Thisdale bring a touching story to life with delicacy and heart.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

What a strange little book. I mean, I get it... but I'm not sure if I really like it or not.

Mister Rodriguez is an odd character. One week, the children notice that he's being accompanied by various animals (many of them old and decrepit). Each day, it's a different animal, with Mister Rodriguez floating along with them. At the end of the week, Mister Rodriguez disappears.

The guy is obviously some sort of angel or spirit who helps animals cross over to the other side. But knowing that just brings up more questions. Why did he only start helping the animals that week? Did nobody's pet die before then? Why did he hang around acting all shifty and suspicious for years beforehand? Was he just waiting until his own death was imminent so he could take a bunch of animal spirits with him? Did he actually die? All sorts of possibilities are implied, but never explained.

I'm not really a fan of the illustrations here. The backgrounds are nice, and Mister Rodriguez and the animals are fine. But the kids are downright creepy. There's an uncanny quality to them that doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the artwork.

There might be an audience for this among kids who have recently lost a pet, but even then I'm a bit skeptical. While the story is original and the illustrations cleverly hint at what's really going on, the book as a whole doesn't quite work for me. Your mileage may vary, of course.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pajama 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 - Rainbow Colors

Rainbow Colors
by words & pictures
illustrated by Juliana Perdomo
Date: 2020
Publisher: words & pictures
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 16
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet! Which color is your favorite?

Introduce your child to the colors of the rainbow with this bright, layered board book. Humorous, rhyming text, and bold illustrations introduce each of the seven rainbow colors in turn. Curved and layered "touch-and-feel" board pages increase in size as you move through the book, developing your child's hand-eye coordination as they turn the pages. The final spread shows a "rainbow" of children from all around the world, reinforcing a positive message of diversity and inclusivity. Open the rainbow pages, read the rhyming text together, and spot the objects in each and every color.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a cute, rhyming picture book about the ROYGBIV colours. I read a digital ARC, so I'm sure I didn't get the full effect; the board book has layered, curved pages that get bigger as the book goes on, so the reader would be unpacking a rainbow while turning the pages.

The rhyming text is surprisingly solid. Each spread is filled with objects of a particular colour, some of which are tied to the text, so there's plenty to look at and search out.

If I have one complaint, it's on the last page. There are a bunch of kids depicted, each dressed in a different colour (except indigo, for some reason). The accompanying text lists the colours. I would've preferred it if the kids had been lined up in the order of the rainbow, since it would've reinforced the names of the colours.

This is likely to be a well-received board book. It's fun to look at, the rhymes don't grate on the nerves, and a sweet spirit of inclusivity makes for a nice ending. I'd definitely recommend taking a look at this one if you're searching for books (especially board books) about colours.

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

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5

Review - Another

Another
by Christian Robinson
Date: 2019
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 56
Format: e-book
Source: library

In his eagerly anticipated debut as author-illustrator, Caldecott and Coretta Scott King honoree Christian Robinson brings young readers on a playful, imaginative journey into another world.

What if you…
encountered another perspective?
Discovered another world?
Met another you?

What might you do?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Another is a wordless picture book that details the adventures of a young girl who follows her cat through a portal into a world where everybody has a double.

It's fun to look at. The illustrations, done with a combination of painting and collage, are colourful and engaging. The children depicted are diverse.

But... this didn't wow me. I got the story, but it seemed a little sparse. The interaction between the girl and her double seemed almost like an afterthought; I thought more could've been done with that. Wordless picture books often tug on my heartstrings. This one didn't have much of an emotional impact at all, really.

It's definitely a nice book for representing lots of different kids. And it might make a nice winding-down book for bedtime. Other than that, though, I'm afraid I found this one a little forgettable.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.2 out of 5

Review - Humpty Dumpty Lived Near a Wall

Humpty Dumpty Lived Near a Wall
by Derek Hughes
illustrated by Nathan Christopher
Date: 2020
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

Looks like the wall has finally met its match. This classic tale gets a modern twist with a Humpty Dumpty for a new generation.

"Humpty Dumpty lived near a wall..." begins this well-known fable. But this time Humpty is ready for battle, with a secret mission and a touch of mischief. Can all the King's horses and all the King's men help put Humpty together again? Or maybe the mission, no matter how small, is simply to question the point of a wall.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

WARNING: Major Spoilers! To read this review with the spoilers hidden, check it out on Goodreads.

It's fascinating what some people think is suitable for children.

This is a super dark rendition of the Humpty Dumpty rhyme. Humpty and his fellow citizens toil in a bland, colourless existence (literally; the pictures are all black and white) as capitalism has run amok. Everyone's under the control of the king, who has built a wall around his domain. Nobody knows what's on the other side. All they know is the wall and the shadow it casts. Then, one day, Humpty decides to build a ladder so he can get to the top and see what's on the other side. He succeeds... but in a very dark way that could be interpreted in a few ways, some of them pretty unsavoury (and completely inappropriate for a children's book).

Yes, Humpty dies. He makes it to the top of the ladder, and the last we see of him--intact, at least--is as an egg staring off over the wall. The next day, a broken egg is found at the bottom of the wall. One piece has a smile on its face. Is the wall a metaphor for the veil between life and death? Did Humpty kill himself to escape oppression? Is that why he died with a smile on his face? What does the king represent? Authoritarian power that can only be escaped by death? There's a cheery thought. (He actually sends photos of Humpty's corpse throughout the kingdom to keep the rest of his subjects in line through fear. Sick freak.)

I can't see that children are going to get much out of this (except maybe trauma). The illustrations, while incredibly detailed and skillful, are monochromatic and extremely creepy in places. Adults will appreciate them. Three-year-olds probably won't.

There needs to be a new category for picture books for adults. As it is now, they're usually published by children's publishers. That's only going to lead to confusion and upset when kids gets their hands on stories like these. "Adult Picture Book" needs to be a category of its own. Then little kids won't accidentally be read clearly adult titles like The Beach at Night or Go the F**k to Sleep. You wouldn't let your preschooler watch Game of Thrones (hopefully), so why would you read them picture books with violence, sexual content, and swearing?

I don't even know how to rate this. On the one hand, it completely misses the mark for its supposed audience. On the other, it's skillfully done. Check it out ahead of time if you're thinking of giving it to your kids. That's about all I can really advise.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2.57 out of 5

Review - Lawrence: The Bunny Who Wanted to Be Naked

Lawrence: The Bunny Who Wanted to Be Naked
by Vern Kousky
Date: 2020
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

In this funny, charming, and oh-so-relatable picture book, meet a young bunny named Lawrence who is determined to decide what he wears--or doesn't wear.

Ever since he was a tiny bunny, Lawrence's mother has dressed him up in all the most fashionable clothes--the brightest colors and the most interesting styles. Lawrence wears homemade sweater suits. And inflatable helium balloon pants. The only problem? Lawrence hates wearing clothes and longs to hop naked through the fields--just like all the other bunnies.

So Lawrence comes up with an ingenious plan to turn the tables on his mother. Ultimately, the mother-son duo devise a way to put their considerable creative talents to use, in a way that makes both of them happy. In this picture book that's perfect for Easter and year round, kids will laugh out loud at (and understand!) Lawrence's quest for independence, just as parents will identify with how hard it is to let go of your one-and-only special bunny....

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Most picture books about empathy involve trying to teach it to the child. This book turns that idea on its head when Lawrence gives his mother a taste of her own (highly fashionable) medicine.

See, Mrs. Rabbit is one of those moms who likes to dress her kid up in fancy outfits... whether the kid likes it or not. All Lawrence wants to do is shed the ridiculous clothes and hop naked through the fields like all the other animals. But when he expresses his feelings to his mother, she's not willing to listen, so wrapped up is she in her little bunny being "special". So Lawrence decides to turn the tables on her, and whips up a special present: her own ridiculous outfit... along with a generous dollop of guilt. As Mrs. Rabbit wears the gift, she starts to realize how her son might have felt. And then she gets another brilliant idea...

The story is pretty cute, and the writing is solid for the most part. The illustrations of Lawrence's ridiculous garments are amusing and colourful, and you can't help but feel sorry for him.

Overall, this is a fun and relatable (at least for some kids) story about learning to listen to each other. The premise reminds me a little of Lester's Dreadful Sweaters by K. G. Campbell, which is also about a kid forced to wear clothes he doesn't like to please adults. But I like the overall message here better, especially since Lawrence's wishes are ultimately respected.

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 - Do Animals Believe In God?

Do Animals Believe In God?
by Carl Solomon Sr.
Date: 2018
Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 28
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Do Animals Believe In God? is a story of what some of the creatures of the earth might say if they could speak if asked, “Do you believe in God?” This book is filled with beautiful illustrations of Daniel’s journey.

Daniel decides to go on a journey to ask the creatures he meets whether they believe in God. Each of the creatures has their own special story to tell Daniel about why they believe in God. As Daniel ventures across different terrains—from his backyard, to a farm, through a forest, into a jungle, across a garden, along a river, and along the shore of the ocean—he meets creatures big and small that share their story with Daniel. It surprises Daniel to learn that each creature has its own unique story to tell about God, which reflects on their own way they experienced God, and they share their story in a way that is easily understood by Daniel. Some of the answers to Daniel’s question will surprise you or humor you.

As the story comes to a close, Daniel finds himself returning home after a day filled with exploration, adventure, and answers. His final question about God is to his mom and dad, who confirms what Daniel had learned on his journey: God is the Creator of all living creatures on the earth, under the earth, in the oceans and seas, and in the air.

This easy-to-read and colorful book allows a child’s imagination to wander and think what a creature would say if they could understand and respond to a question asked by a little boy named Daniel. Its message is timeless and eternal. Each page brings a different message than the last page read, so your child will, in anticipation, want to see what is next.

(synopsis from NetGalley; see it on Goodreads)

I was really curious as to what the message of this book would be. After all, believing in a deity (or deities) is something that appears to be uniquely human. According to this book, though, animals are just as sentient and sapient as we are, able to contemplate their place in the world and realize that they were created by one specific deity. Books like this are kind of insulting, in my opinion. They make Christians appear overly credulous and unable to think critically. They're preaching to the choir, and to anyone who doesn't share the belief system, they look an awful lot like propaganda.

I don't really have anything good to say about this one. The writing is pretty bad, with a verb conjugation error in the very first sentence. The rest of the book is written almost like a script or an Internet meme, with no conventional dialogue tags (even though almost the whole book is dialogue):

DANIEL: Excuse me, Mr. Whale, do you believe in God?

WHALE: Yes, I do! Remember, God asked me to swallow Jonah to test Jonah's faith in Him.

Most of the animals' reasons for believing in God are rather circular. Many are a variation on: God made me, so I believe in God, because He made me. The snake is an exception but, like the whale, its belief is tied back to Bible stories (it believes in God because it sinned, so God made it crawl on the ground).

I wondered what livestock might believe. Would animals crammed into a stinking feed lot believe in God? We don't really find out. The only livestock animal that's featured is a cow in a pristine pastoral setting, and she believes in God because God made grass for her to eat so she can make milk and serve humans. In fact, the last sentence of the book talks about how animals were only put here by "the Master" for us to enjoy. (This book would not go over very well with vegans.)

The layout isn't great, either, with the text sometimes layered over dark and busy parts of images, making it challenging to read at times. The digital illustrations are bland and uninteresting.

I wasn't expecting to love this; I was more curious than anything. I don't think I would've been satisfied with the answers in this book as a kid, though. The question is kind of ridiculous to begin with, but I wish there had been more than circular reasoning offered. Animals believe in God because they believe God created them? Sorry, but that's a weak argument... even for a children's picture book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Christian Faith Publishing, Inc for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 0/5

Overall: 0.67 out of 5

Review - Thukpa for All

Thukpa for All
by Praba Ram & Sheela Preuitt
illustrated by Shilpa Ranade
Date: 2018
Publisher: Karadi Tales
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 38
Format: e-book
Source: library

Tsering can’t wait to taste his grandmother’s delicious noodle soup. He invites a string of friends and neighbours home. But as preparations get underway, there is a power cut and the house is plunged into darkness. Will Abi be able to put together the much-anticipated thukpa? Told from a blind child’s perspective, this tale by Praba Ram and Sheela Preuitt is accompanied by Shilpa Ranade’s stunning illustrations.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Thukpa for All seems a little bit like a folk tale, in the tradition of stories like "Stone Soup" or modern picture books like Oge Mora's Thank You, Omu! Set in India, it tells the story of a little blind boy and a dinner invitation that brings the whole community together.

Tsering is on his way home, looking forward to his grandmother's thukpa (noodle soup). As he encounters various people, he invites them home to share the meal. Eventually, it's a big party, but it's okay because each guest brings a contribution for the meal. But then the power goes out! How will Abi see to be able to cook the thukpa?

I really like the premise of this. And I like seeing a child with a disability featured in a role that highlights his skills and contributions. The setting is interesting, too; I don't think I've read any picture books set in the Ladakh region of India before. The way the story is structured works well, too; it reminds me of "Stone Soup" and its variations (although the overall message is different). The choice to make Tsering blind is interesting, and I really enjoyed the onomatopoeia that was included as a way of highlighting one of the senses that he does have.

Unfortunately, the book suffers from a couple of problems that really affected my enjoyment. The first is the writing. The characters "speak" with silent actions such as smiling and handing over a basket of peas. It wasn't just a one-time occurrence, either, so I took off a few points for that. Also, the illustrations give the impression that this book could take place a long time ago. There's little in the way of modern technology. So when the power goes out, it's jarring. There aren't even any electrical wires to be seen, so I'm curious as to how Ami's house is powered. Solar panels? Then why would one of the characters make mention of a "power cut", as if it's something that happens regularly with the grid? The stove itself is simply a rectangular box. Drawing an electrical cord might have helped the illustrations look they actually belonged with the text. (There's also the matter of the stove having a chimney in one illustration but not the others. That's a continuity problem that should've been caught.)

For all that, though, this isn't a terrible book. I always like reading about children's experiences in different parts of the world. There's also a recipe in the back for thukpa, which sounds tasty. So I would recommend this one (especially if you're not as much of a stickler for good grammar as I am).

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 2.83 out of 5

Review - Chicken Break!

Chicken Break!: A Counting Book
by Cate Berry
illustrated by Charlotte Adler
Date: 2019
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Chicken Break, a children's picture book from writer Cate Berry and illustrator Charlotte Alder, is simple fun with some wild and crazy chickens...

These chickens (ten to be exact) have one mission: to escape the coop and have some wild fun. One by one, the chickens break out. When all ten are out, they let loose! But chickens get tired, and after their wild day, one by one, they head back for some much needed relaxation. Even party animals need some rest.

Filled with spunk and spirit, this is a fun and energetic way of engaging young readers to count to ten and from ten to one!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Chicken Break! is a counting story about a group of ten chickens who feel like having some fun. So they hatch a plan to escape the farm, with each chicken (or groups of chickens) playing their part. But when they've finished their day out, they need to get back to the farm before someone discovers they're missing... so the counting goes in reverse as the chickens find a number of outlandish ways to re-infiltrate the farmyard.

The rhyming text tells the story fairly well. The focus isn't so much on the numbers here as on what the chickens are actually doing. They're a diverse bunch, and it's fun to try to pick out the different chickens in the scenes when they're all together. (There's even a chicken wearing rollerskates!) The illustrations are bright and graphic, and while simple, they manage to capture the chickens' personalities.

Overall, this isn't so much a counting book as a storybook, but I'd still recommend it for kids who are learning their numbers. There are plenty of things to count in the cute pictures, and enough humour to keep readers engaged.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5

Review - Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish

Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish
by Beth Ferry
illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Date: 2019
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

A joyful picture book that celebrates every kid's favorite day of the year, full of adorable art from the illustrator of Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site and I Wish You More.

The most important rule is #1: It must be your birthday.

After that's been established, a crew of hilarious animals help picture book pros Tom Lichtenheld and Beth Ferry take readers through a joyous romp that covers the most important elements of every year's most essential holiday, including singing; closing your eyes and making a wish; blowing out candles on a cake, then settling into bed and dreaming of your wish coming true.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book has a cute premise and amusing illustrations, but in the wrong hands, it could be a recipe for disappointment. Why? Because it could make kids think they're entitled to a birthday party with fancy desserts, decorations, lots of friends, and loud singing... all of which are deemed absolutely necessary for making the birthday wish. So if your parents don't have the means to throw you a party and/or you don't have any friends, you're out of luck. No wishes for you.

This could've worked if the tone hadn't been so... authoritative. But there's no room for improvising to fit realistic needs. Showing kids that they could've had a proper birthday wish if only they'd followed all these rules to the letter (when some of them might not have been possible given economic, social, or even medical reasons) seems a bit cruel.

The illustrations are fun, and there are cute little touches throughout. But I just don't like the "all or nothing" attitude this book espouses. The only way to make a birthday wish, according to this book, is to follow all of its rules. Let's try not to taunt kids with things that they--for whatever reason--might not be able to have.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.67 out of 5

Review - How to Two

How to Two
by David Soman
Date: 2019
Publisher: Dial Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

From the co-creator of the New York Times bestselling Ladybug Girl series comes a joyful counting book about inclusivity, play, and the thrill of making new friends--from one to ten and back again.

A quiet day at the playground turns into a boisterous park-wide adventure as one boy on the slide becomes two kids on the see-saw, then three jumping rope. Before long, ten new friends are playing like they've known one another forever.

With its deceptively simple text and a rich visual narrative, How to Two is a playful counting and reverse-counting concept book as well as an exuberant celebration of inclusive play, friendship, and community.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Something about this one rubbed me the wrong way. The illustrations are cute, and the counting aspect is fun, but I have a problem with the overall wording. Plus, this is a book that doesn't know when to quit.

This is a counting book with a bit of a... well, it's not so much a story as a premise. It starts out with one kid playing by himself. This is "how to one". This phrasing is used throughout, and though I can tell it means "how to play in a group of X number of kids", the wording is really weird. I've never heard playing in a numbered group said as "how to X". Unfortunately, that's pretty much the whole text of the book, so if it bothers you, there's no escape.

When we get to the end (or so we think), we're treated to another run-down of the numbers from 10 through 1 as the kids are collected by their respective families. Then the book seems to start all over again (thankfully, though, it only goes to two). And then we find out that there are animals hidden throughout the pages, so of course kids will want to go back and find them all. But wait, there's more! As a final, somewhat random touch, the numbers are reinforced yet again with illustrations of kids' hands and their fingers indicating the numbers from 1 to 10. I would definitely not recommend this book at bedtime; you'd never be done!

I've encountered Soman's work before in the Ladybug Girl books, as well as in Three Bears in a Boat. I don't really have much of a complaint with the illustrations, other than the fact that the diversity didn't really go far enough; there are kids from various backgrounds and family types, but everybody is able-bodied. It might've been nice to see a child with a physical disability represented, especially as the theme seemed to be one of friendship and inclusion.

The clunky phrasing (and never-ending nature of the latter part of the book) makes this a title I can't wholeheartedly recommend. I realize that my annoyance at the wording is a subjective thing, though, so others might enjoy this one more than I did. It certainly reinforces the numbers, so if that's what you're looking for, this might be a good counting book for you.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.5 out of 5

Review - One Fox

One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller
by Kate Read
Date: 2019
Publisher: Two Hoots
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A stunningly gorgeous counting book with a delightful surprise

One hungry fox with two sly eyes is on the prowl...three plump hens had better watch out! Rich and colorful illustrations plunge the reader into a dramatic and exciting story set in a moonlit farmyard. With something different to count on each page, learning to count from one to ten has never been so thrilling! This surprisingly simple counting book with a gripping tale, great for early education and read-alouds, has a hugely satisfying ending that's sure to delight generations.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I really enjoy a good counting book. The best ones are those that incorporate something other than the numbers themselves, such as engaging illustrations or a simple story. One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller has both.

The book begins as we're introduced to the fox. He's sneaking up on the henhouse, where three hens are resting inside, along with their five eggs. Each number focuses on a different aspect of the story (e.g., two sly eyes, four padding paws, nine flying feathers, etc.). But when the count reaches 10, readers (and the fox) are in for a bit of a surprise.

The illustrations here are interesting, and look to be done in a mixed-media style incorporating collage, drawing, and painting. The overall look is colourful and complex (but not so complex that the various objects throughout can't be easily counted).

This is a strong counting book that also functions as a story. Highly recommended to kids who are learning their numbers, as well as to fox fans.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year
by Hannah Eliot
illustrated by Alina Chau
Date: 2018
Publisher: Little Simon
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: library

Learn all about the traditions of Lunar New Year—also known as Chinese New Year—with this fourth board book in the Celebrate the World series, which highlights special occasions and holidays across the globe.

After the winter solstice each year, it’s time for a celebration with many names: Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, and Lunar New Year! With beautiful artwork by Chinese illustrator Alina Chau, this festive board book teaches readers that Lunar New Year invites us to spend time with family and friends, to light lanterns, and set off fireworks, dance with dragons, and to live the new year in harmony and happiness.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Lunar New Year is a fairly solid little board book that introduces young readers to the concept of Chinese New Year. Unlike some other books I've read on this topic, this one shies away from scaring children with superstitions (such as implying that your parents will die if you don't stay up all night on New Year's Eve; sadly, I read another book about Chinese New Year that did just that) and sticks to the facts. That's not to say there's nothing about superstition here; the holiday is pretty much steeped in it. But this book gives some background about some of those superstitions, explaining how they came to be with mentions of old stories.

The illustrations are cute and show families getting together and participating in the various activities that are common during the celebration. If I have one complaint, though, it's that the very first page could cause confusion. The book states that the lunar new year starts with the new moon... but the illustration on that page is clearly a crescent moon.

Other than that, though, this isn't bad. It's clear and concise, and the book accomplishes what it set out to do. I wouldn't mind reading some of the other board books in this series about holidays, especially if they're as well done as this one.

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 Three Little Narwhals

The Three Little Narwhals (Twisted Fairy Tales)
by Stewart Ross
illustrated by Chris Jevons
Date: 2020
Publisher: Arcturus Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

In this whale of a tale, the Big Bad Shark is looking for a tasty snack... when he comes across three delicious-looking narwhals! The loveable, pointy-horned creatures-show-off Spike, arty Spiral, and shy Stubby-discover a sunken pirate ship, and are using the parts to build their own homes. Now they are out of their depth, locked in a battle of wits with the munching, crunching villain.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is the third book I've read from this series (the other two being The Ninjabread Man and Little Rude Riding Hood). It sort of falls in between the other two.

The Three Little Narwhals is a retelling of "The Three Little Pigs", but instead of pigs it's narwhals, and instead of a wolf it's a shark. When the three narwhal siblings witness a pirate ship sink, they salvage the wreck for parts to build their own houses. Spike builds a tent-like home out of ropes and sails. Spiral builds a wooden house. And Stubby, left with nothing but the metal parts of the ship, builds a most unusual house indeed. The shark eventually causes his own downfall, and everyone lives happily ever after.

Aside from setting this under the sea, there isn't that much that's "twisted" about the story. It follows the overall plot of "The Three Little Pigs" pretty closely. In the end, it's not so much the cleverness of the narwhals that defeats the villain, but the villain's own actions.

The writing is, surprisingly, not as bad as in the other two books (despite the fact that it has the same author as The Ninjabread Man). But the story is weaker. The illustrations are okay, but I don't like them quite as much as in the other two books.

I guess this series just isn't for me, no matter how much I was initially attracted by the overall premise.

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

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.83 out of 5

Review - Little Rude Riding Hood

Little Rude Riding Hood (Twisted Fairy Tales)
by Jo Franklin
illustrated by Chris Jevons
Date: 2020
Publisher: Arcturus Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Once upon a time, a fairy tale went very wrong! This new twist on a traditional children's story is packed with fun, humour, and energy.

Little Rude is incredibly cheeky to everyone that she meets. She doesn't even know the meaning of "please" and "thank you!" However, that could all change when she meets a surprisingly polite wolf on her way to Grandma's house.

Will Little Rude's constant insults drive even this newly reformed Big Bad Wolf over the edge? This riotously funny remix on the traditional fairy tale will delight children and adults alike.

This hilarious tale featuring brand-new full-colour illustrations will be sure to thrill readers aged 6+.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read another title from this series, The Ninjabread Man, earlier this year. I absolutely hated it. The writing was atrocious and the story was weak. I do like the idea of twisting fairy tales around, however, so I decided to give Little Rude Riding Hood a try. After all, it's by a different author, and I thought maybe the writing would be better.

Sadly, the writing is plagued by the exact same issues as The Ninjabread Man! Was it a requirement to use silent dialogue tags throughout these books? "Folded her arms", "waved", and "clapped her paws" are not acceptable replacements for the word "said". So, to be fair, I knocked off a writing point for each instance of impossible dialogue tags, just as I did for The Ninjabread Man. I didn't get into the negatives here, but the writing still only gets one star.

However, the story is more enjoyable, even if the heroine is completely insufferable. Little Rude is so awful that I was wishing that the wolf would eat her. (He, unfortunately, has been taking anger management classes, so the reader is forced to put up with Little Rude for far too long.) The climax is pretty funny, but I found the resolution a bit unbelievable. I don't think a child as awful as Little Rude would even be redeemable; she comes across as having a severe personality disorder for the majority of the book, and I doubt that one incident would suddenly change her into an angel.

The illustrations are fine, just as they were in The Ninjabread Man. They're done by the same illustrator, which is nice; it helps keep continuity throughout the series.

Overall, Little Rude Riding Hood is better than The Ninjabread Man, but I still can't really recommend it due to the grammar errors that seem to be mandatory for this series.

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

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - With a Little Help from My Friends

With a Little Help from My Friends
by John Lennon & Paul McCartney
illustrated by Henry Cole
Date: 2019
Publisher: Little Simon
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Celebrate friendship with this lyrical picture book that beautifully illustrates John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s world-renowned words from “With a Little Help from My Friends.”

I get by with a little help from my friends…

In this gorgeously illustrated picture book, the universally loved words to “With a Little Help from My Friends” come vividly to life, showing that sometimes, all you need is a little help from your friends!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a lovely little book about friendship. Taking the 1967 song as its starting point, the book weaves a story about two young girls and their friendship as it faces a major challenge.

The illustrations by Henry Cole are really adorable. They're mostly in black and white, with just a few touches of colour. I think they were my favourite part of the book and, to be honest, this probably could've been a wordless picture book and it would've worked just as well. The song lyrics did seem a bit forced in a few places, and I'm not sure if "I get high with a little help from my friends" is entirely appropriate for a picture book (the illustrations cleverly use a kite at that point, so it's probably only older kids who will giggle over the "get high" reference).

I've read other books that take old songs and turn them into picture books (e.g., What the World Needs Now Is Love and The Circle Game), but this is one of the strongest I've read so far. Highly recommended to Beatles fans or readers who are seeking out books on friendship.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5

Review - Ivy + Bean

Ivy + Bean (Ivy + Bean #1)
by Annie Barrows
illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Date: 2006
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 120
Format: e-book
Source: library

The moment they saw each other, Bean and Ivy knew they wouldn't be friends. But when Bean plays a joke on her sister, Nancy, and has to hide quickly, Ivy comes to the rescue, proving that sometimes the best of friends are people never meant to like each other. Vibrant characters and lots of humor make this a charming and addictive introduction to Ivy and Bean.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is my first experience reading about this duo. It might not be the last. The story was cute enough, and I thought the girls' characters were done pretty well.

Bean wants to play a joke on her sister, but it backfires and Bean has to hide out for a while until Nancy has cooled off. She ends up roped into a scheme with Ivy, the little girl who lives across the street (and who Bean's mother has been pestering her to go and play with), to cast a witchy spell. As the girls move through the neighbourhood, encountering a variety of neighbours in their quest for spell ingredients, they grow closer (as little kids do when they're engaged in a common activity), and by the end of it all, when Bean's suffering through some well-earned discipline for her part in the plot, the two girls are friends.

I'm not sure why I didn't love this more than I did. Maybe it's because it's intended for young readers and it reads like it (unlike, say, Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson series, which has enough humour and heart to engage older readers as well). Maybe it's just the illustrations. I've seen Blackall's work before, but I just don't like it here. The characters are... well, ugly, for lack of a better word. Maybe if the pictures had been in full colour, like the cover, I would've liked them a little more; the black-and-white illustrations just seem flat and kind of rushed.

Overall, though, this would probably be a good series for kids who are beginning to read chapter books. It'll probably be little girls who read this, simply because of the gender of the two main characters (although the story itself isn't really "girly").

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.13 out of 5

Review - The Ultimate Survival Guide to Bedtime Monsters

The Ultimate Survival Guide to Bedtime Monsters
by Mitch Frost
illustrated by Daron Parton
Date: 2020
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Do you lie awake at night worrying about monsters?

Donut monsters? Blue monsters? DANCING ROBOT MONSTERS?!

Then this is the book for you! Follow these ten easy steps and you'll never be bothered by monsters again. Not even carrot monsters.

Perfect for anyone, big or small, who's ever been afraid of what might be lurking under the bed.

(synopsis from NetGalley; see it on Goodreads)

This monster book is just okay. The pictures are passably cute (and not too scary) and the text is decent from a technical standpoint. But... it contradicts itself, discourages rereads, and generally just nullifies itself.

What do I mean? Well, basically, this is an instruction manual for keeping bedtime monsters at bay. Right off the bat, the audience is going to be limited because not all kids are worried about this. Anyway, the book gives steps on how to keep those pesky monsters from bothering you. It's a thinly veiled attempt to get kids to clean their rooms and brush their teeth. Which brings me to the first problem. Step 1 has kids tidying up their rooms because monsters hate messes (there's nowhere for them to hide). But then Step 5 has kids surrounding themselves with oodles of their toys because monsters hate big crowds. So are we trying to get kids to keep their rooms tidy or not?

A number of the steps are pretty pointless (and not really steps at all). Step 3 is, "Forget about dancing robot monsters. They don't exist." (Except in kids' minds where you've just planted the idea. Moving on...) Step 6 instructs readers to ignore the hairy monsters because they're vain and just want to play with their hair all night. Step 9 tells us not to worry about monsters shaped like doughnuts (they're more afraid of you than you are of them). Step 10 tells kids to take their socks off because they don't need them (monsters can't grab ankles because their arms are too weak... and so is this logic for going barefoot).

But then we get to the biggest head-scratcher of them all. As a bonus, the book apparently functions as a monster force-field that encompasses the entire house. All you have to do is read the book and close it and you're instantly protected from monsters! You don't have to bother cleaning your room or brushing your teeth. The book does all the hard work of monster repelling for you. (The last page tells us that these steps now work on closet monsters, too. I should hope so; closets are generally indoors, and would be inside the force-field.)

If a kid is really into monsters (i.e., loves them rather than fears them), this might be an okay book. But the lack of logic and the self-neutralizing nature of some of the steps is kind of confusing. I've read better books that deal with this topic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - The Fish Who Found the Sea

The Fish Who Found the Sea
by Alan Watts
illustrated by Khoa Le
Date: 2020
Publisher: Sounds True
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A rediscovered treasure for a new generation: the first and only story for children ever written by Alan Watts.

Alan Watts, beloved for bringing a childlike wonder to the spiritual journey, once wrote a story for children. The Fish Who Found the Sea brings this delightful and wise parable to life for a new generation. Presented with new art from award-winning illustrator Khoa Le, here is a story as timely as it is entertaining—sharing a key message about getting into harmony with the flow of life.

In this tale of a tail, we meet a fish with a curiously familiar problem—he’s gotten himself so mixed up that he spends all his time chasing himself in circles! Only the Great Sea knows how to help our poor fish get out of the mess he’s created with his own runaway thoughts. Here is a parable that perfectly captures the wit and wisdom that have made Alan Watts a timeless teacher we will never outgrow.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The fish was sure that if he relaxed the chase for a moment he would plunge headlong into the abyss, and so he redoubled his efforts to save himself, in spite of the fact that he became more and more tired and disgusted every minute.

Soon he saw that he was in a hideous dilemma: he must either fall into the abyss or go on chasing his tail. Both alternatives were equally horrifying.

He waved his fins in panic and prepared to die.

This is not a children's book. It's an illustrated spiritual parable for grownups written by an author who really doesn't seem to understand kids if he thinks that they want to read a story about existential terror that uses words like "obtruded". That sound you hear is lots of tiny feet pounding on the floor as they try to escape this so-called children's storybook.

If it were marketed to adults, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But as it's being marketed to kids, I have to take into account its suitability for the age group. The illustrations are lovely... but the text will go so far over kids' heads as to be essentially meaningless. And for those kids who do understand some of it, it could be scary. The author even seems to appeal to the little worrywarts with the following suggestion:

You know how it is when you start thinking about something you do automatically, such as breathing, or riding a bike: you begin to get confused.

The fish goes on to think he's forgotten how to swim. Just what we need: little kids worrying that they're going to get confused and forget how to breathe.

I'd recommend this to teens and up. It's not a children's book, despite how it's being marketed.

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

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - The New Neighbors

The New Neighbors
by Sarah McIntyre
Date: 2019
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

New neighbors have moved into the ground floor of a bustling apartment building. The bunnies upstairs are excited, but what will the other residents think? Sarah McIntyre's funny, light-hearted tale reveals there's no room for prejudice.

The bunnies upstairs are thrilled to find out that rats have moved into the first-floor apartment. But when other neighbors discover the news, excitement soon turns to jitters, panic, and worse! As the residents descend the stairs to investigate, the rats prepare a yummy dessert. Will all of the animals make the rats leave, or can fear be conquered with delicious, homemade cake?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a story about racism. It's not subtle, but it is awfully cute.

When the bunnies learn that a family of rats has moved in downstairs, they're excited. They go and let their neighbours know. But the neighbours aren't quite as open to the idea of rats in the building. In fact, they have all sorts of preconceived notions about them, and feel it's their duty to warn everyone else. So the party makes its way downstairs, collecting more animals (and more prejudices) as they go. By the time they reach the rats' apartment, they've whipped themselves into a frenzy imagining the dirty, smelly, thieving, dangerous neighbours who are going to steal all their stuff and make the building collapse. But when the door opens, they're greeted by a tidy, friendly rat couple who invite them all in for cake. Embarrassed, the other animals realize that they've let their ideas about rats colour their thinking. A lesson is learned by all (except the bunnies, who didn't really have a problem in the first place).

The pictures are cute, with plenty of details and lots to look at. I enjoyed the visual aspect of the book probably a little more than the text. The text is fairly strong, but it's not subtle at all, and the things the other animals say about the rats before they know any better are kind of cringe-worthy. I also felt a bit uncomfortable when one of the rats says they were worried about what their new neighbours might have thought of them, and one of the bunnies responds with... well, a lie. (I don't know if the bunnies just weren't aware of the prejudices of the others, or if they were just trying to be tactful. In any case, I'm not sure what the correct response would be in that situation. Do you admit you were a racist jerk... or do you lie to make it look like you weren't?)

Hopefully, kids will pick up on the allegory. It could lead to some good discussions about how we shouldn't judge people before we've even met them. Overall, this is a cute book with a good message. I enjoyed it.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5