Review - Dragons Love Tacos

Dragons Love Tacos (Dragons Love Tacos #1)
by Adam Rubin
illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Date: 2012
Publisher: Dial Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

This scrumptious New York Times bestseller has a whole lot of kick!

Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.

The award-winning team behind Those Darn Squirrels! has created an unforgettable, laugh-until-salsa-comes-out-of-your-nose tale of new friends and the perfect snack.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Did you know that dragons love tacos? That's news to me. It's also the premise of this fun picture book in which a boy hosts a taco party for dragons, only to accidentally feed them spicy salsa... with disastrous results. Oops!

The premise is a bit silly, but so are the dragons. They have great facial expressions (and look friendly more than fearsome). There are lots of cute details to look at in the illustrations.

Overall, this is a book that will probably have wide appeal. After all, most of us can relate to having a favourite food that we could eat "pantloads" of.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - How to Write a Story

How to Write a Story
by Kate Messner
illustrated by Mark Siegel
Date: 2020
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 36
Format: e-book
Source: library

Step 1: Choose an idea for your story. A good one.
Step 2: Decide on a setting. Don't be afraid to mix things up.
Step 3: Create a heroine—or a hero.
Now: Begin.

Storytellers Kate Messner and Mark Siegel chronicle the process of becoming a writer in this follow-up to How to Read a Story, guiding young storytellers through the joys and challenges of the writing process. From choosing an idea, to creating a problem for their character to resolve, to coming to The End, this picture book breaks down the writing process.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a cute little instruction manual for budding storytellers that offers basic, commonsense tips for writing (and sharing) your story.

I'm not sure what else to really say about this. Kids who are interested in writing will probably enjoy the book and feel inspired. Those who aren't interested in writing will likely give it a pass. Sometimes books have a very specific audience, and that's okay. The important thing is that books like this find their way into the hands of those who will appreciate them.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - Water Can Be...

Water Can Be... (Can Be... Books)
by Laura Purdie Salas
illustrated by Violeta Dabija
Date: 2014
Publisher: Millbrook Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Water can be a
Thirst quencher
Kid drencher
Cloud fluffer
Fire snuffer

Find out about the many roles water plays in this poetic exploration of water throughout the year.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Water Can Be... is a strong rhyming picture book that teaches readers about water, its various states, its cycle, and its uses.

Lovely pictures showcase the rhyming text. On most pages, only one concept is highlighted; there is further information about each of these ideas in a four-page section at the back. There's also a glossary to help younger readers understand some of the more unfamiliar terms.

I would recommend this book to those who are interested in learning about water, as well as to those who enjoy rhyming non-fiction picture books with evocative illustrations.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - Kaya's Heart Song

Kaya's Heart Song
by Diwa Tharan Sanders
illustrated by Nerina Canzi
Date: 2018
Publisher: Lantana Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

"Let me tell you a secret--if you have a heart song, anything is possible. Even magic!"

Kaya is looking for her heart song--the song that happy hearts sing. Her search takes her on a journey deep into the jungle where a broken down carousel waits for a very special song to make it turn again.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book combines vibrant, appealing artwork with a strange story about magic to teach children about mindfulness.

While I enjoyed looking at the pictures, and I don't really have a problem with the overall premise, I found the execution strange and a bit lacking. Kaya follows a butterfly into the jungle, where she encounters a man guarding a broken-down elephant carousel. As she concentrates on pulling the vines off and freeing the carousel from its bonds, she starts to get into a meditative state and hear her heart song. Then she starts riding the magical elephants around the jungle, a swarm of butterflies appears with an inexplicably diverse group of children, and everybody gets an elephant ride.

Lantana Publishing's slogan is "Because all children deserve to see themselves in the books they read." Kaya's Heart Song takes that to ridiculous levels, though, and children may be left questioning what a bunch of white and black kids are doing in the Malaysian jungle. There are places where a diverse cast of characters makes sense. This isn't one of them, and I found it distracting.

I also wish the magic aspect had been downplayed a little. As it is, the book seems to imply that being mindful and finding your heart song will make inanimate objects come to life. We don't practice mindfulness so that magical things happen... but that's the message I got from this one.

Overall, I'd probably only recommend this one to children whose parents are willing to sit down and talk about the author's note. The pictures are lovely, but the message is a bit muddy.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5

Review - Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog

Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog
by Lisa Papp
Date: 2020
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Madeline Finn and Star are back--and now Star is old enough to become a therapy dog. Will our beloved team be able to pass the test?

Madeline Finn and Star are off to Walker Oaks, a retirement community where Star will take his tests to become a therapy dog. Accompanied by Mom, Mrs. Dimple, and Bonnie, she and Star make their way through a variety of challenges and meet several new friends. But Madeline Finn can't stop thinking about an elderly man in a wheelchair who never smiles. Is there something she and Star can do to help?

A companion to the Lisa Papp's best-selling books Madeline Finn and the Library Dog and Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog, this heartwarming story explores the therapy dog training process and provides a realistic and appealing example of a young person making a difference in her community.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I absolutely love the illustrations in these books! Madeline Finn and the dogs are so adorable. I come away from reading wanting a dog of my own to hug.

In this book, Star (the dog) is old enough to become a therapy dog. So Madeline Finn and her mother take Star to Walker Oaks, a retirement community, to take the requisite tests. Star does well... but Madeline Finn notices an old man who seems to need a bit of love. Will she and Star be able to break through his defences?

This is a lovely story with strong writing and gorgeous illustrations. I noticed one missing quotation mark, but as this is an ARC, hopefully that will be sorted out in the final version. Other than that, I really enjoyed this one. Readers who fell in love with Madeline Finn in her previous books will probably find plenty to love here as well.

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

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.17 out of 5

Review - Cat Dog Dog

Cat Dog Dog
by Nelly Buchet
illustrated by Andrea Zuill
Date: 2020
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Here is the oh-so-hilarious and adorable story of a blended family-- using just a few words in various configurations-- from the pets' point-of-view!

Cat and Dog live with their human in a suburban house with a big backyard. Sure, they fight like.... well, cats and dogs, but they're used to one another. Dog-- a different dog-- lives a happy only child life in the city with his dad. He has the bed to himself, he never has to share his toys, and that's the way he likes it. So what happens when the Dog's dad and Cat and Dog's mom move in together? Well, it's chaotic. There's not enough room on the bed, for starters. But as the seasons pass, the three animals become a trio and learn to (mostly) love one another. Just as they're settling into a cozy life as a threesome, along comes..... a baby! This laugh-out-loud picture book, which cleverly uses two repeating words, is sure to strike a chord with kids dealing with the ups-and-downs of settling into a blended family of their own.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is an almost-wordless picture book about a blended family. A guy and his dog move in with a gal and her dog and cat. Hijinks ensue.

There's really no story to read; the dogs and cat (and a few other things) are labelled, but that's about it. The story--which is basically just a slice of life--is conveyed through the illustrations. It's cute, I guess... but I don't think it's really one of those books that you'd want to read again and again (unless you're a little kid who's just learning to read words on their own).

Overall, this is amusing, but it lacks re-read potential.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 2.8 out of 5

Review - Schnitzel

Schnitzel: A Cautionary Tale for Lazy Louts
by Stephanie Shaw
illustrated by Kevin M. Barry
Date: 2016
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Apprenticed to a famous wizard, young Schnitzel is not known for his hard work. In fact, it's just the opposite. He's lazy and lacks motivation. So late one night, when a door-to-door salesman selling vacuum cleaners offers to help, Schnitzel sees an answer to his housecleaning woes. Little does he know, however, that this is no ordinary salesman and the vacuum is no ordinary dust-buster. In this retelling of the classic tale The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Schnitzel is about to find out why it's never a good idea to invite a cape-wearing, fang-toothed stranger in after dark. Fortunately for him, there's magical help ready to lend a hand.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

What a strange book! Schnitzel is a retelling of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"... with vampires. Yeah, I don't really get that part; it seems really random. Basically, Schnitzel (the apprentice) is lazy and doesn't want to vacuum with the crotchety old appliance (that's the bug-like thing on the cover, apparently). So when a door-to-door vacuum salesman--who happens to be a vampire--shows up with the promise of a more efficient suck, Schnitzel takes him up on the offer... only to see the whole house disappear into the vacuum bag and the vampire make a claim on his neck. If you're familiar with the original story, you can guess how this one ends.

The story is told in rhyme, which does flow pretty well. The illustrations are quirky and fun. But I just don't see what a vampire has to do with anything. Okay, a vampire and a vacuum both suck, but... it still seems random.

Overall, this is kind of amusing. I don't think it'll ever be a favourite retelling of mine, but it's fun to see less well-known stories retold once in a while.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.29 out of 5

Review - The Amber Anthem

The Amber Anthem (5 Worlds #4)
by Mark Siegel & Alexis Siegel
illustrated by Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller & Boya Sun
Date: 2020
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Reading level: MG
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 240
Format: e-book
Source: library

In book 4, Oona Lee arrives on Salassandra determined to light the yellow beacon and continue her quest to save the Five Worlds from the evil Mimic's influence. But the beacon is encased in amber! An ancient clue says that Oona and her friends must seek out the Amber Anthem to succeed. Meanwhile, Stan Moon sends an evil Jax robot to assassinate Oona and hunts down An Tzu himself. Turns out, as An Tzu fades away from his Vanishing Illness, he's becoming someone else--someone who could tip the scales in the battle for the Five Worlds!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm not sure what happened here. I've been loving this series up until now. Whether it's the reading slump I've been in, or whether it's the book itself, I can't really say for sure. All I know is that this is my least favourite installment so far.

The story is still building to its ultimate conclusion. Oona Lee is working her way through the Five Worlds, lighting the beacons as she goes. Her friends, Jax and An Tzu, are still at her side. I do like that we finally got some backstory for An Tzu here, and his character is now a lot more fleshed out (which is somewhat ironic, considering his vanishing illness is still progressing).

The illustrations are still lovely and detailed, and the whole look of the book is great. I did, however, feel like there were some parts that were a bit rushed. And yet, one sequence near the end was so drawn out as to seem like filler. This made the pacing seem a bit uneven for me.

I'm hoping that the next book (which will be the last in the series) will seem a lot more substantial. After all, there will be loose plot ends to tie up and character arcs to finish. Though I didn't love this book as much as the others, I'm still looking forward to seeing how the story ends.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - The Mosquito

The Mosquito (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 mosquitos perfect for beginning readers. Conversational text and silly illustrations will have you up all night reading about the most annoying bug on Earth!

Fast mosquito facts:
- Distinctive trait: Leaving annoying itchy bites
- Diet: Your blood (and nectar and plant juice)
- Special talent: Making a terrible whining sound in your ear

The Mosquito covers habitat (mosquitos live everywhere except Antarctica and Iceland!), species (over 3,500!), history (the oldest recorded mosquito was 79 million years ago!) and much more. Although silly and off-the-wall, The Mosquito contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a nice addition to the Disgusting Critters series by Elise Gravel. It features neat facts about mosquitoes and cute pictures that help easily convey the information to the reader.

For some reason, I didn't like this title as much as some of the others in the series. I didn't feel I learned a whole lot, and the ending seemed kind of abrupt; I even wondered if I was missing some pages.

But this book does fit in well with the rest of the series, and if you're looking for children's books about pesky critters, this might be a good one to start with.

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: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - The Egg

The Egg
by Geraldo Valério
Date: 2020
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

The Egg is an imaginative and unusual story about a bird and a child, and how they become a family. The wordless story opens with a crane caring lovingly for an egg. During a storm, a gust of wind blows the egg from its nest. Despite searching far and wide, the crane can’t find the lost egg anywhere. Heartbroken, the crane spots something―an egg! Not its own, but since this egg is also alone, the crane rescues it to safety.

When the egg hatches, the little one inside is―unexpectedly―a human baby. No matter their differences, the crane loves and cares for the child, adopting it into an avian life. When they take flight together, this unusual duo encounters other birds with their young ones―the babies all a diverse array of creatures, showing that families come in all shapes and sizes.

This whimsical story is open to interpretation and imagination, but above all imparts the message that a loving family can be whatever we make it.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is one of those books that leaves you scratching your head. Not because it's difficult to understand... but because you're just not quite sure what to make of it.

In wordless paper collage, The Egg tells the story of a large bird who loses an egg during a storm. While searching, they find something that looks like their egg... but which actually turns out to be a swaddled baby. Undeterred, the bird raises the human baby as their own.

That's all weird enough, but in the final pages, we see all kinds of birds with their adopted children: a toucan with a rabbit (or maybe it's an aardvark); a flamingo with a little girl; a parrot with a pig; and, rather hilariously, a pelican with a goldfish (in a bowl). I'm not sure what the reader is supposed to take from this. Birds are kidnappers? The "families come in all shapes and sizes" message is almost obscured by the absurdity of the pairings.

No matter. This is probably one of those books that you'll either love or roll your eyes at. It does manage to tell the story clearly without any words at all, which I admire. And the cut-paper illustrations are fun to look at. Overall, this is a strange little book... but one that I'm sure has an audience somewhere.

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

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 2.8 out of 5

Review - Bears and Boos

Bears and Boos
by Shirley Parenteau
illustrated by David Walker
Date: 2020
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

The adorable bears are excited to dress up for Halloween — but are there enough costumes for everyone?

Big Brown Bear and the four little bears can’t wait to dress up for Halloween. Everyone grabs their costumes from the costume box, but — oops! — in the rush, Floppy is knocked on her furry behind, and now there are no costumes left for her! Fuzzy says she’s sorry and offers Floppy a golden gown. Then each of the other bears shares an item with Floppy, and soon she’s dressed like a queen — just in time for the parade! Shirley Parenteau and David Walker combine cheerful read-aloud rhyme and irresistibly charming art in another story for the youngest cubs and their big bears.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Bears and Boos is a Halloween-themed story about five bears who want to dress up. But in the melee, one of the bears misses out and doesn't manage to grab a costume. Luckily, she has kind friends, and they offer up parts of their costumes so she can dress up and join in the fun.

The rhythm of the verse is a bit off in spots, but it isn't too bad overall. The story is simple and sweet. Adorable illustrations of the bears highlight the message of caring and kindness.

Overall, this would be a nice addition to the Halloween shelf. I'd recommend it to very young children, however, due to the simplicity of the story.

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

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Sometimes a Wall

Sometimes a Wall
by Dianne White
illustrated by Barroux
Date: 2020
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

An afternoon in the playground introduces different kinds of walls: a brick wall to draw on with chalk, a water wall, and a climbing wall. What follows is a playful yet profound exploration of the many ways walls can divide us or bring us together. When one child is excluded from a game, another builds a castle to leave him out. When the builder declares the castle MINE, other kids feel alienated―but the builder becomes lonely, too, when the others have fun without him. The book ends with the optimism of a new start: friendship, forgiveness, and imagination give the wall new meaning.

Told with short, simple lines of playful, rhyming text and loose line illustrations by internationally known artist Barroux, this book sparks questions with empathy, insight, and charm. It’s a timely tool for inquiry-based and social-emotional learning, sharing the important message that walls can unite or divide, depending on the choices we make.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The story here is a bit difficult to follow, perhaps because the text is so sparse. It took me a couple of readings to figure out what was going on. Basically, a kid builds walls and ends up alone and sad. And then... walls are apparently a good thing? I'm still not sure.

I really don't like this one. With a title like Sometimes a Wall, I would expect to see both sides of the issue. But the walls in the story are pretty much all negative (at least metaphorically). Sure, a climbing wall is fun, but that's not what we're really talking about here, is it?

I wouldn't recommend this. The message is too muddled.

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

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.71 out of 5

Review - The Paper Boat

The Paper Boat
by Thao Lam
Date: 2020
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

In The Paper Boat, Thao’s signature collage art tells the wordless story of one family’s escape from Vietnam―a journey intertwined with an ant colony’s parallel narrative.

At her home in Vietnam, a girl rescues ants from the sugar water set out to trap them. Later, when the girl’s family flees war-torn Vietnam, ants lead them through the moonlit jungle to the boat that will take them to safety. Before boarding, the girl folds a paper boat from a bun wrapper and drops it into the water, and the ants climb on. Their perilous journey, besieged by punishing weather, predatory birds, and dehydration, before reaching a new beginning, mirrors the family’s own.

Impressionistic collages and a moving, Own Voices narrative make this a one-of-a-kind tale of courage, resilience, and hope.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I thought I would like this one more than I did. I think I was thrown by the narrative with the ants; you really only get the significance of that after you read the author's note.

This is a wordless picture book, illustrated with cut-paper collage, that details the escape and journey of a family of refugees fleeing Vietnam in the 1970s. The story is easy enough to follow... up to a point. After the little girl drops a piece of paper, the ants climb on and go on their own journey... which involves vicious seagulls and a lot of drowning. I guess the idea was to use the ants instead of people for the more graphic aspects of the story. But it's still pretty dark.

The book doesn't really work without a reading of the author's note at the end, which I'm not crazy about; I think picture books should be able to get their message across without too much explanation.

The collages are okay, but I'm not really a fan of the spare style. The bleakness of some of the panels works, given the subject matter, but I didn't think there was enough of a contrast (at least colour-wise) between the panels that depicted the refugees' flight and the ones that showed them safe in their new home.

Overall, this is a decent refugee story, and would probably work best in a classroom setting where more discussion about the topic can follow. I'm not sure if kids would get a lot out of it if they just flipped through it on their own (especially if they didn't bother reading the author's note at the end).

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

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.6 out of 5

Review - Ollie and Augustus

Ollie and Augustus
by Gabriel Evans
Date: 2020
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

In a sweet story full of visual humor, first-day-of-school worries take on a new weight when Ollie’s best (and furriest) friend must stay at home.

Ollie was small — like a pickling jar or a shoe box.
Augustus was big — like a fridge or a table.

Ollie and his dog, Augustus, do almost everything together: painting, riding bikes, digging (Ollie’s favorite), and collecting sticks (Augustus’s favorite). So as Ollie is getting ready to start school, he’s a little worried. Won’t Augustus be lonely during the day? Ollie has just the idea: a sign that reads Wanted: Friend for Augustus. But good friends, as it turns out, are hard to find. Luckily, Ollie and Augustus aren’t just any kind of friends — they’re best friends, and nothing will ever change that. Endearingly illustrated with scratch-scratchy appeal, this is a tale for animal lovers and new school-goers alike.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Ollie and Augustus is the story of a pet who gets left behind when his owner goes to school. It's a story I've seen done before... and better. Still, it's not without its charm.

Ollie is a small boy. Augustus is a huge dog. When Ollie has to start school, he worries that Augustus will be lonely. So he puts out an ad for a new friend for Augustus. Unfortunately, all the dogs who answer the ad are... well, dogs. And nobody can replace Ollie in Augustus's mind.

Jean Reidy's Truman tells a very similar story about a child going to school and leaving their pet behind. I think I preferred that one a bit more. While Ollie and Augustus is slightly more reassuring to kids who are worried about their pets, I almost felt like it went a bit too far. Ollie spends the day worrying, while Augustus has a fun day playing and relaxing without even seeming to realize his boy is gone. (Is anybody going to tell the poor kid that he doesn't need to give himself an ulcer worrying about his dog?)

The illustrations are kind of cute. I have no idea why Augustus is the size of a small car, but it kind of adds to the quirkiness of the book.

Overall, this is an okay story. It would be good for kids who are worried about leaving their pets behind when they go to school. I might pair it with Truman for a bit of extra reassurance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press 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 - Monkey With a Tool Belt Blasts Off!

Monkey With a Tool Belt Blasts Off!
by Chris Monroe
Date: 2020
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Come along on an out-of-this-world journey with Chico Bon Bon in this rollicking new adventure from author and illustrator Chris Monroe.

Oh no, the Moon Malt machine at the Superstar Space Station and Snack Bar is broken! The ever-resourceful Chico Bon Bon and his trusty sidekick Clark the elephant ZOOM to the rescue. While working on the malfunctioning Moon Malt machine, they discover myriad other things in need of fixing, including a hatch and a latch and a droid's underwear. And then--FWHOOSH! KA-BOING!--what was that? It's the cutest alien in the universe, and she's stranded at the space station due to a broken down spaceship!

Thanks to Chico's know-how and his extensive tool collection there's a fix for every problem under the sun--and beyond!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm really not the audience for this. I'm sure some kids will enjoy it, but the story--about a technically minded monkey who helps rescue an alien--didn't interest me all that much. It's obviously intended for very young children, and doesn't offer much for older readers (or the parents who'll end up reading this to their kids).

There's nothing really wrong with the story, other than it being a little predictable. The choice to rhyme some parts but not others is a strange one; I'm not a fan of books that do this. I'm also having trouble with the illustrations. This book really needs to be read in a fairly large format, because there are lots of tiny details in the pictures that could easily be missed. (I have a feeling the e-book doesn't really do it justice.)

The book is fine for what it is, and if kids are a fan of the character, they'll probably enjoy it. I didn't find it particularly memorable, however, and I would probably only recommend it to very young children.

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

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - Sir Tim Has a Secret

Sir Tim Has a Secret
by Judith Koppens
illustrated by Eline van Lindenhuizen
Date: 2020
Publisher: Clavis Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Real knights are always honest. But when Sir Tim accidentally rips his cape, he tries to blame his friend Max. And when Mom leaves a strawberry shortcake on the table, he sneaks a bite. Keeping all these secrets begins to give Sir Tim a bellyache...

A sweet and recognizable book about keeping secrets. For honest knights ages 4 and up.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is the second Sir Tim book I've read. I'm still not impressed.

The premise of this one is okay, but the writing is all over the place. You cannot nod your words! And having Sir Tim think things out loud is just silly. (Use the word "said" and be done with it.)

The kids' playground gave me the willies. (Sharp nails sticking out of the play structure to snag kids' clothing as they're going down the slide? Sounds like a recipe for a lawsuit.) The story is relatable, with Tim getting carried away with his lies--only to be given away by his dirty cheeks. But I think the text itself needs more work.

Overall, I don't think I'd recommend this. I prefer to see stronger writing in picture books.

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

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Review - You Are Special

You Are Special
by Sam Loman
Date: 2020
Publisher: Clavis Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Kiki looks in the mirror. She thinks her fur is boring. Then Kiki has an idea. She uses pencils, ink, and paint to make herself colorful. Will her friends think she is special now?

A fun story about appreciating yourself just the way you are. For all children ages 4 and up.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Aside from the somewhat cute illustrations, this is really rather weak. It's the story of a white cat who thinks she's boring because she doesn't have pretty colours like her friends. So she goes and uses various art media to colour and paint herself. Her friends aren't impressed. Eventually, she's all colourful. Then her mother pops her in the tub and tells her she's special just as she is.

While the overall message is fine, it's overshadowed by some weird storytelling choices. Each time Kiki asks a friend if they like her new colours, they blow her off. Based on the illustrations, they're too wrapped up in their own vanity to notice or care (which begs the question of why these are her friends in the first place). I thought the friends' attitude might be addressed, but it wasn't. Another thing that threw me was that the cat was colouring herself with coloured pencils. Paint? Fine. Markers? Okay. But how do you draw on fur with coloured pencils? I'm also not a fan of the emphasis on specialness. Yes, Mommy tells the siblings they're special just as they are... but she'd also just told them they were special because they were all covered in rainbow colours. The message is a bit muddled, and I'm not sure if it's clear enough for 4-year-olds.

Overall, this is weak. Kids might enjoy the illustrations. But the message isn't strong enough (or clear enough) for this to be a book I would recommend.

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

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.67 out of 5