Review - Unstoppable

Unstoppable
by Adam Rex
illustrated by Laura Park
Date: 2020
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 56
Format: e-book
Source: library

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Well, what if the answer was: ALL OF THEM! When a bird narrowly escapes the clutches of a hungry cat, a nearby crab admires the bird's ability to fly, while the bird admits a longtime yearning for claws. And, just like that, they team up. Pretty soon, the team includes every animal in the forest who's ever wanted someone else's special trait. But how will these animals stop humans from destroying the forest for a megamall? It's going to take claws, wings, and Congress together to be truly Unstoppable!.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This wacky picture book starts out with the existential moanings of a crab. With some creative problem solving and some really odd portmanteaus, the animals join together to solve a crisis threatening their home.

I really recommend reading this one without looking at the synopsis first. I went into this not knowing what to expect, and I was almost laughing out loud at the crazy turns the story took. It's silly and amusing, but somehow still manages to teach a small civics lesson. Go figure.

Overall, this is a fun book with a nice message about how the power of working together makes you unstoppable.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.33 out of 5

Review - I Really Want the Cake

I Really Want the Cake
by Simon Philip
illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti
Date: 2017
Publisher: Orchard Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

There's a smell I can't ignore.
It's wafting through the kitchen door.
It's time for me to find out more.
I think it might be cake.

How do you resist the most amazing cake ever? Especially when your mum has left a note saying that you MUST NOT eat the cake?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Sometimes, you just really want cake.

That's the dilemma facing the little girl in this story. Her mom has baked a cake, and it smells delicious. Try as she might, though, the kid just can't put the treat out of her mind. She tries to distract herself, to no avail. Eventually, she gives in. Just a little lick should be okay... right? Well, not exactly. And then she's faced with a whole new dilemma!

The rhyming text has near-perfect meter, which is a refreshing change. The story is told clearly, and there's a nice message about taking responsibility for your actions. The illustrations are cute; the little dog who's the girl's partner in crime is a neat motif that runs throughout the book.

Overall, I'd recommend this one to readers looking for strong rhyming picture books.

Also to people who love cake.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.14 out of 5

Review - The Invisible Boy

The Invisible Boy
by Trudy Ludwig
illustrated by Patrice Barton
Date: 2013
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A simple act of kindness can transform an invisible boy into a friend…

Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party... until, that is, a new kid comes to class.

When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.

From esteemed author and speaker Trudy Ludwig and acclaimed illustrator Patrice Barton, this gentle story shows how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish. Any parent, teacher, or counselor looking for material that sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children will find The Invisible Boy a valuable and important resource.

Includes backmatter with discussion questions and resources for further reading.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a cute little story about friendship and kindness.

Brian is invisible. The other kids in the class don't seem to see him. He's excluded from everything and is always picked last. He's a quiet kid who keeps to himself, and so is often overlooked. One day, a new student shows up. The other kids make fun of his lunch. Brian leaves a supportive note in Justin's cubby, and the seeds of a new friendship are planted.

This book could be the start of some interesting discussions and, in fact, there are some questions at the back to help you get started. I don't know if I'm really a fan of those, as some of them seemed to imply that the kids were being cruel on purpose. (Given the age at which the kids are depicted, the incidents in question were more likely thoughtless rather than intentionally malicious.)

I like the way Brian is drawn in black and white most of the time, with colour starting to creep in whenever someone "sees" him. And the illustrations are pretty cute in general. They're my favourite part of the book.

Those looking for books about inclusion, thoughtfulness, and kindness will probably find something to like here. It's nice to see a book that doesn't go straight for the bullying angle; there are subtler ways that kids can hurt each other, even unintentionally, and this book addresses some of them in a sensitive way.

Quotable moment:

At morning recess, Brian finds a piece of chalk on the ground and starts drawing away.

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 - Cave Dada

Cave Dada
by Brandon Reese
Date: 2020
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

A hilarious book for new dads and their little loved ones to share and enjoy!

It's bedtime for Dada's little cave baby. But Baba wants a bedtime story, and not just from any book. Baba wants just the right book—and the right book means the biggest book! Poor Dada! The delaying tactics of his Stone Age darling may not speed up bedtime ... but they just might change the course of human history.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Picture-book-for-parents alert!

Okay, so bedtime is an eternal struggle. But toddlers aren't going to get it. While this isn't as bad as, say, Mama Needs a Minute, it's still annoyingly geared to parents. Basically, there's a fussy cave baby who demands (in broken English... ugh) that his father read him a story. Nothing else will do. So the dad brings increasingly larger books; they're all written on stone, and some of those books tend to be rather heavy. While dragging one across the floor, a resulting spark starts a fire. The cave is cozy. The kid falls asleep without his story. And everyone is happy.

This is appropriate for new dads... and that's about it.

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 - Kitties on Dinosaurs

Kitties on Dinosaurs
by Michael Slack
Date: 2020
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

A daring, dinosaur-climbing adventure leads to hilarious kitty hijinks in this adorable tale of perseverance

They're adorable! They're daring! They're kitties who love to climb things! And they won't give up until they've achieved their ultimate climbing dream: scaling the dinosaurs on nearby Dinosaur Island. The level-headed narrator warns the kitties that the dinosaurs look hungry, that their teeth are super big, that things look terribly bleak if they go through with climbing the dinosaurs. But these kitties have a plan. And then another plan. And then another...well, you get the idea. Can these fair kitties conquer their biggest challenge yet and avoid cat-astrophe?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm not the audience for this, as I'm neither four years old nor a cat lover. For those demographics, this book might be more entertaining.

See, there's a trio of kitties that climb things. They want to climb everything... and that means braving the dinosaurs on Dinosaur Island. So they get in their mobile litter box and head over there to see if they can climb some dinos. Each of their plans is thwarted until, finally, there's a surprise twist. And then an even bigger twist.

Unfortunately, I didn't really care about these stupid—albeit tenacious—cats. The illustrations are cute, which saved this book from being a complete dud for me.

If you love cats and dinosaurs, you might enjoy this. If you're neutral about both, you might not be that enthused about this particular title.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - Dino-Thanksgiving

Dino-Thanksgiving
by Lisa Wheeler
illustrated by Barry Gott
Date: 2020
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Lisa Wheeler's bouncy, rhyming text and Barry Gott's energetic illustrations invite readers to celebrate a dino-style Thankgiving!

Follow along as dinos travel over the river and through the woods to join together with family. They enjoy favorite activities, including a corn maze, a televised parade with giant balloon creations, and of course a football game! The dinos share in not one but two feasts--one for the carnivores and another for the veggie-saurs. Join in the fun as the dinos find much to be thankful for on this special holiday!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Last year, some of my Thanksgiving picks were rather off-putting. They tended to focus mostly on the food, and on eating habits that verged on eating disorders. So I was a little hesitant going into this book about dinosaurs having thanksgiving. Was I in for another orgy of gluttony and greed?

Thankfully, the answer is no. Dino-Thanksgiving is a charming book about a world of dinosaurs celebrating one of their favourite holidays. There's food, of course, but there's also fun, family, friends, and football. The chaos of the kids' table is represented well, as is that one guest who just wants to eat. One thing I really liked was that there were two major dinners in this neighbourhood: one for the carnivores and one for the herbivores. But that doesn't stop them from all getting together for games and a bonfire.

The rhyming text is fairly strong. The illustrations are amusing and colourful, with lots of cute touches throughout. And the message of community, family, and thanksgiving comes through loud and clear.

Strangely, a book about hungry dinosaurs is one of the strongest Thanksgiving picture books I've read. It's sure to appeal to dinosaur fans, but those who are looking for strong holiday books might like it, too.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.71 out of 5

Review - We Will Rock Our Classmates

We Will Rock Our Classmates (Penelope #2)
by Ryan T. Higgins
Date: 2020
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

Readers will twist and shout for this headbanging companion to the #1 New York Times best-selling We Don't Eat Our Classmates.

Penelope is a T. rex, and she's very good at it. She also likes to rock out on guitar! With the school talent show coming up, Penelope can't wait to perform for her classmates. But sharing who you are can be show-stoppingly scary, especially when it's not what people expect. Will Penelope get by with a little help from her friends?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

We Will Rock Our Classmates is just as cute as We Don't Eat Our Classmates. This time, Penelope the T. rex is getting ready for the school talent show. But when it comes time to rehearse, she freezes and loses all her confidence. She's just a T. rex, after all, and they don't rock 'n' roll.

Or do they?

With some reassurance from her dad, Penelope comes to value herself and realize that, even though she's a T. rex, she's a lot of other wonderful things as well.

The pictures are adorable. Higgins has created a character that readers will empathize with and want to cheer for. The same touches of humour that lit up the first book can also be found here.

I'd recommend this one to readers who enjoyed the first book about Penelope, as well as those who are looking for empowering books about having faith in yourself and your talents... whatever they might be.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Review - Alma and How She Got Her Name

Alma and How She Got Her Name
by Juana Martinez-Neal
Date: 2018
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

What's in a name? For one little girl, her very long name tells the vibrant story of where she came from — and who she may one day be.

If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of Sofia, the grandmother who loved books and flowers; Esperanza, the great-grandmother who longed to travel; José, the grandfather who was an artist; and other namesakes, too. As she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all — and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell. In her author-illustrator debut, Juana Martinez-Neal opens a treasure box of discovery for children who may be curious about their own origin stories or names.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a sweet little story about a girl whose father is explaining to her how she got her long and elaborate name.

Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has a lot of names. Too many, she thinks. But as her father sits her down and explains the origin of each part of her name, she finds herself relating to the people she was named after.

Soft colours and sweet illustrations highlight the story. The whole thing is simple, but it works. I have to admit that I'm a bit jealous. As someone whose parents picked her name because they just liked it, I can't really relate to Alma's perceived struggles. But kids who are gifted with names that have great meaning in their family will probably find this story reassuring. You might be named after someone, but you still get to carve out your own path in life.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Jules vs. the Ocean

Jules vs. the Ocean
by Jessie Sima
Date: 2020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

From the creator of Not Quite Narwhal comes a story about a young girl determined to impress her older sister by building elaborate sandcastles, even if that means standing up to the ocean and its smash-happy waves!

Jules is going to build the biggest, the fanciest, and the most excellent sandcastle. Her sister will be so impressed.

But the ocean has other plans.

Jules keeps building bigger, fancier, and more excellent castles, and waves keep smashing them.

And when the ocean takes her bucket, that is the final straw.

Jules is going to take a stand!

From beloved storyteller Jessie Sima comes the tongue-in-cheek story of the sand, the sea, and sisterhood—told with her signature warmth, timeless humor, and delightfully playful illustrations.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

While the illustrations are nice, the rest of the book is uninteresting and rather grating. It's basically about a little girl who doesn't learn from her mistakes and has zero critical thinking skills; a child this stupid should not be left on her own at the edge of the water.

Jules keeps building sandcastles right on the edge of the sea, only to have them washed away by the ocean waves. Undeterred, she keeps repeating the same mistake, expecting a different result. Finally, she decides the ocean is out to get her. She loses her bucket, her sister helps her build another castle (again, right at the edge of the water), and the ocean strikes again. Then the girls' mother tells them that the moon is in charge of the ocean... so they decide the moon is out to get them.

I just don't like reading about stupid people, no matter how young they are. It's tiresome. Check this one out for the appealing illustrations if you must... but don't expect a lot from the story.

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 - Creepy Carrots!

Creepy Carrots!
by Aaron Reynolds
illustrated by Peter Brown
Date: 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

The Twilight Zone comes to the carrot patch in this clever picture book parable about a rabbit who fears his favorite treats are out to get him.

Jasper Rabbit loves carrots—especially Crackenhopper Field carrots.

He eats them on the way to school.

He eats them going to Little League.

He eats them walking home.

Until the day the carrots start following him...or are they?

Celebrated artist Peter Brown’s stylish illustrations pair perfectly with Aaron Reynold’s text in this hilarious eBook with audio that shows it’s all fun and games…until you get too greedy.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Falling squarely in the "vegetables have feelings" camp is this twisted tale of (mild) horror about a rabbit and his veggie victims. Jasper Rabbit loves to eat carrots... but do those carrots love to be eaten? Apparently not, because one day he starts to notice that they're... well, stalking him. But those carrots are wily, and nobody believes Jasper when he says they're out to get him. What's a hungry rabbit to do?

This is a cute book that would be fun at any time of year, but especially at Halloween when readers are looking for something a bit creepy. The black-and-white illustrations with just a few touches of orange give the book an old-fashioned feel that's reminiscent of a particular old TV show.

Overall, this is an amusing story. Check it out if you're looking for something fun and a bit creepy (but not too scary).

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Ming's Christmas Wishes

Ming's Christmas Wishes
by Susan L. Gong
illustrated by Masehiro Tateishi
Date: 2020
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

Inspired by family stories.

Ming wishes for three things at Christmas. First, to sing in the school Christmas choir. Second, to have a Christmas tree like the one in the department store window. And third, to feel she belongs somewhere.

As a daughter of immigrants in 1930s California, Ming is often treated differently than other children at school. She’s pointedly not invited to sing in the Christmas choir. At home, when Ming lobbies her parents for a Christmas tree, her mother scolds her for trying to be American. Ming doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere: she’s not quite American enough at school, not quite Chinese enough at home.

Seeing his daughter’s unhappiness, Pop takes her into the mountains to visit a wise old friend. Always happy for an adventure with her kind father, Ming hopes to persuade Pop to bring home a mountain pine to be their Christmas tree. But he has something else in mind, something that will help Ming draw strength from nature, from their Chinese heritage, and from deep and enduring family ties.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This Christmas picture book features lovely illustrations and a nice theme... but it suffers from a lack of context.

From the very beginning, we see Ming struggling to find acceptance both at school and at home. Young readers might wonder why Ming isn't allowed to sing with the other students simply because she's Chinese. The book obviously takes place in another time (and the blurb states that it's the 1930s) but the only clues in the story are the illustrations and a few mentions of historical events (the Gold Rush, the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, etc.). Ming, having been born and raised in the US, just wants to be like the other kids. She especially wants a Christmas tree for their house. But her mother refuses to allow it.

Most of the story is taken up with Ming and her father visiting a couple of old friends, recalling their history, and visiting an old shrine in a grove of sequoias. Ming eventually gets a Christmas tree of sorts (while her mother looks on miserably). The ending is rather abrupt, even though it fits in with the rest of the story.

An author's note would've been much appreciated. If this is inspired by family stories, I would've liked reading about those. That might have also helped anchor the story in a particular time and place. As it is, readers are left to puzzle over why Ming's teacher is such a racist, not allowing a little girl to sing Christmas carols.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Federico and the Wolf

Federico and the Wolf
by Rebecca J. Gomez
illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
Date: 2020
Publisher: Clarion Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Clever Federico outsmarts el lobo in this Mexican-American take on Little Red Riding Hood.

With his red hoodie on and his bicycle basket full of food, Federico is ready to visit Abuelo. But on the way, he meets a hungry wolf. And now his grandfather bears a striking resemblance to el lobo. Fortunately, Federico is quick and clever—and just happens to be carrying a spicy surprise! Federico drives the wolf away, and he and Abuelo celebrate with a special salsa. Recipe included.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Federico and the Wolf is a cute take on "Little Red Riding Hood" where the main character is a little boy with a red hoodie.

Sprinkled with Spanish words, the story follows the basic plot of the original. Federico takes a basket of food to his grandfather's store. But he meets a hungry wolf on the way, and the wolf decides to try to have a snack. (You get the idea.)

The text is charming, with a bouncy rhythm and great read-aloud rhymes. The pictures are certainly colourful, athough I wasn't blown away by them. The wolf is suitably scary, though.

Fans of fairy-tale retellings will probably enjoy this one. I would also recommend it to those looking for English books that have a smattering of foreign words. (The glossary at the back, complete with pronunciation guide, is always a nice thing to have in a book like this.) And don't forget to try the included pico recipe!

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Review - Find Fergus

Find Fergus
by Mike Boldt
Date: 2020
Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 36
Format: e-book
Source: library

The hilarious mind behind I Don't Want to Be a Frog and Bad Dog brings picture book fans the super-funny, interactive story of Fergus the bear, who loves to play hide-and-seek with the reader . . . but can't really seem to get the hang of it.

Children will giggle from start to finish as they follow huge, loveable Fergus and see all the silly ways in which he is TERRIBLE at playing hide-and-seek -- such as hiding behind a VERY tiny tree ("Found you, Fergus! That was too easy!") or hiding in a giant crowd of bunnies and squirrels ("Try bears, Fergus. Bears!").

But wait -- the game isn't over yet! The last two pages fold out into a giant panoramic look-and-find scene, where Fergus is well and truly hidden, and young readers can have fun looking for him and lots of other silly details in the the crowd. There's a ton of play value in this adorable book, and children will want to come back to it again and again.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Find Fergus was a little underwhelming for me. The illustrations are cute and the premise is solid... but it's just not my thing. I've never really been big on Where's Waldo? and this is just a variation on that. Sort of.

Fergus the bear is really bad at hiding. Most of the book is taken up by his increasingly successful attempts to blend into a crowd. I don't think that part of the book has all that much re-read potential. At the end, though, Fergus gives the reader a list of 14 things to find other than him... so that could keep readers busy for a while.

This is fine if you love those books where you have to find things. The writing is solid and the premise is sound. It's just not for me.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Pugtato, Let's Be Best Spuddies

Pugtato, Let's Be Best Spuddies
by Sophie Corrigan
Date: 2021
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

What does it mean to be a best spuddy? Spend the day with Pugtato and his very best spuddies and find out! A best spuddy likes to play and listen, share, and give a helping hand. Spend time with Pugtato and his very best spuddies as they show us exactly how to be a best spuddy too.

Pugtato, Let’s Be Best Spuddies:

Features adorable and silly illustrations by Sophie Corrigan
Shows the youngest readers ages 4-8 how to be a good friend
Written in delightful, giggle-inducing rhyming text
Is great for discussions and story times focusing on friendship, sharing and helping others
Check out another title in the series, Pugtato Finds a Thing.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is another cute book about Pugtato and his... um... edible friends.

I read Pugtato Finds a Thing back in September and thought it was adorable. This book is just as cute. However, it's not really a story like the first one. In fact, except for the fact that this book is a bit of a spoiler for the first one, it actually works better as the first book in the series because it's basically just an introduction to all the characters. In this book, we see Pugtato's friends being friendly... but that's really all there is to it. It's sweet, but there's no real plot.

If you liked Pugtato Finds a Thing, be sure to check out Pugtato, Let's Be Best Spuddies.

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

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Review - Max and Marla Are Going on a Trip

Max and Marla Are Going on a Trip (Max and Marla #4)
by Alexandra Boiger
Date: 2020
Publisher: Philomel Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

From the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of She Persisted comes a Max and Marla story about being present and appreciating the world around us.

School is out for the summer, and Max and Marla are off to Australia! Max has always wanted to see koalas, after all. He makes sure to pack his camera for the trip, so that he can capture every moment and remember this vacation. Off they head by air and by sea, with Max looking for just the perfect shot along the way. But when he keeps missing the amazing sights while focusing his lens, Marla knows that she needs to step in.

In this final story in the Max and Marla quartet, the two friends learn that being together and enjoying their trip makes for the best memories after all!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I haven't read any of the other Max and Marla books, although I have read She Persisted so I'm familiar with Boiger's artwork. I'm not sure if this was the best book to introduce me to this series about a little boy and his owl friend. It was a little underwhelming.

Max and Marla decide to take a trip during their summer holidays. They decide to go to Australia. So they pack up their stuff and get into an airplane. Then they take a boat. Along the way, Max misses all the sights as he tries to capture them with his camera. When they finally arrive in Australia, Max has lost his camera, so he's able to finally appreciate what's going on around him and make some actual memories.

The message is okay, but it feels a little bit shoehorned in at times. I'm not clear on what the premise is here. Is Max just imagining these journeys? Or is the reader supposed to believe he's actually flying airplanes and piloting boats? In any case, it's not really clear, and the illustrations themselves are confusing at times; I sometimes can't figure out what Marla's doing.

There's also one glaring issue that will likely be noticed by a few readers. Presumably, Max is from North America (or at least somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere). He's on his summer vacation. He and Marla travel to Australia... and enjoy the summer nights there. Oops.

Overall, I'm not that impressed. The idea of enjoying what's going on around you rather than trying to capture it in a photo is fine. But the actual story and the hit-or-miss illustrations are just a bit weak for me.

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 - Travel Guide for Monsters

Travel Guide for Monsters
by Lori Degman
illustrated by Dave Szalay
Date: 2020
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Taking your monster on a road trip this summer? Or letting your favorite beast tag along on a family beach vacation? Wherever you and your monster are traveling, Travel Guide for Monsters is full of essential tips to help you both enjoy the sights from coast to coast--and avoid monster-related mishaps.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a travel guide for taking your monster on a road trip across the United States. Told in fairly impeccable rhyme, the trip starts out on the west coast and makes a few stops along the way, ending at Niagara Falls.

The monsters seem to be enjoying their trip. The illustrations are colourful and fun. There are a couple of questionable word choices (including "nauseous" when it should've been "nauseated"; unfortunately, the rhyme scheme demanded it).

Fans of books about friendly monsters will probably enjoy this one. It bumps along with its jaunty rhymes and takes readers on a nice trip.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.29 out of 5

Review - Please Don't Eat Me

Please Don't Eat Me
by Liz Climo
Date: 2019
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Beloved author-illustrator Liz Climo is back with a hilarious take on (reluctant) friendship that will appeal to fans of We Don't Eat Our Classmates and I Want My Hat Back!

When a carefree bunny is approached by a voracious bear in the woods, Bunny has just one request: "Please don't eat me."

But the bear has a never-ending list of requests, and Bunny realizes maybe Bear isn't as hungry as he'd let on...maybe he just wants his new friend's company for a while.

This witty and poignant exploration of predator and prey will have children and parents alike roaring with laughter--and looking for their next meal.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is an amusing little story about a bunny and a supposedly hungry bear. When the bunny encounters the bear in the woods, the bear wants to eat them. The bunny orders a pizza instead, which they share. But the bear is still hungry and insists they must eat the bunny. After all, they don't want to not eat a bunny in front of their friends. And so it goes, until at last the bunny gets fed up and tells the bear to just get it over with... at which point we learn that the bear has an appetite for friendship rather than rabbit salad.

The premise is cute, and the emotions of the bunny (ranging from fear to frustration to resignation) are fun to watch. The illustrations are simple but effective.

Overall, I think kids (and their parents) will get a kick out of this one. And the message is nice, too. Sometimes, if you want someone to hang out with, the best thing to do is just ask.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - It's a Moose!

It's a Moose!
by Meg Rosoff
illustrated by David Ercolini
Date: 2020
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

A baby that is different from all the others brings a family great joy until he grows too big for their home.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This ridiculous story perpetuates the notion that you get a baby from the hospital nursery much like one would get a loaf of bread from the bakery. An idiotic family gets a new baby and don't realize it's a moose. (How the baby moose ended up in the nursery is never explained.) They treat the thing like a human, and it grows up with the family. But soon it gets too big for its suburban life and it seems sad. So the family takes it out to the forest and abandons it there. They later receive a postcard from their moose friend (who can apparently read and write).

I sincerely hope that no children are traumatized by this. "If I feel sad, Mom and Dad might dump me in the woods!" The theme of abandonment is totally inappropriate for a children's book. While I can get behind the message of "wild animals belong in the wild", it doesn't work here as the poor moose is domesticated and anthropomorphized to a ridiculous degree. Will this pampered moose be able to survive his first winter in the woods? Who knows?

The illustrations are fine for what they are. The family looks suitably clueless (while everybody else stares, probably wondering what the heck is wrong with these idiots).

Skip this one, unless you want to spend a lot of time reassuring your kids that you won't abandon them in the woods if they feel sad.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.83 out of 5

Review - On Account of the Gum

On Account of the Gum
by Adam Rex
Date: 2020
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 56
Format: e-book
Source: library

On Account of the Gum is a book about how the best intentions lead to some of the worst (and funniest) ideas!

Serious humor abounds in this story about one kid's hilarious misadventures with gum, and the cumulative buildup of stuff stuck in hair.

From the madcap mind of Adam Rex comes a book about the improbable, downright bizarre remedies for a problem kids have faced since the creation of gum.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The poor kid!

This is one of the funniest picture books I've read in a while. When a kid gets gum in their hair, everyone has ideas on how to get it out. As the kid's hair becomes loaded with more and more "solutions", the reader can see their frustration growing until it explodes at last and brings about an unexpected resolution to the problem.

Sort of.

The illustrations are pretty much perfect. Don't let the pink on the cover turn you off, either; it's a reference to the gum and shouldn't be construed as making this a "girls' book".

Recommended to anyone who enjoys silly stories... or who's ever gotten gum stuck in their hair. You probably got off easy in comparison.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.57 out of 5

Review - Mad About Plaid

Mad About Plaid
by Jill McElmurry
Date: 2000
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Madison Pratt is delighted to find a lonely plaid purse in the park one afternoon. Then the purse's mad curse causes Madison--and her whole neighborhood--to turn plaid! Will Madison's spunk and optimism help to reverse the curse before it's too late? Filled with vivid colors and rich textures that enhance the story's humor, Jill McElmurry's first picture book is just as bright and creative as her irresistible heroine.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book does not work in the COVID era. I'm sorry, but I can't look favourably on any book that shows adults treating their children like dirty, disease-carrying lepers, covering them in plastic and sowing the seeds for OCD. The premise might have been funny once... but it definitely isn't now.

Aside from that, I couldn't stand the text. It switches between prose and quasi-poetry, with some parts rhyming and some not. It's highly distracting; just when I'd get into a poetic rhythm, the narration would switch back to straight prose again.

The story is silly. A little girl finds a plaid purse in the park. It's cursed (or something) because the plaid pattern spreads onto the little girl, and then eventually infects the whole town. When the girl turns the purse inside out to show its blue lining, the blue spreads in the same way as the plaid. So the girl has to sing a silly song to chase away the blues.

The illustrations are okay, but the text grated on my last nerve. The potential anxiety that the quarantining of a "sick" child might cause was the last straw. It might have worked in 2000 when it was first published, but it doesn't work now.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2.14 out of 5