Review - Dandy

Dandy
by Ame Dyckman
illustrated by Charles Santoso
Date: 2019
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

From popular author Ame Dyckman and rising star Charles Santoso comes the laugh-out-loud story of a father desperate to destroy the dandelion marring his perfectly manicured lawn, and his daughter's fierce attempts to save it.

When Daddy spots a solitary weed in his lawn, he's appalled (along with all of his neighborhood friends). But his daughter Sweetie has fallen in love with the beautiful flower, even going so far as to name it Charlotte. Racing against time and the mockery of his friends, Daddy has to find a way to get rid of the errant dandelion without breaking his little girl's heart.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is pretty stinking cute.

A leonine family's suburban utopia is marred by the appearance of a single dandelion in the yard. *gasp!* But before Daddy can get to it, his daughter Sweetie has already fallen in love with the flower... and even named it. Daddy tries in vain to get rid of Charlotte, but it seems that Sweetie is always around. By the time he finally gets his chance, he's not so sure anymore... because he knows how much Charlotte means to his daughter.

With touches of humour, this sweet little story is relatable to anyone who's ever lived in the suburbs. Even if you're not obsessed with weeds, one of your neighbours probably is. This book shows what happens when that obsession is taken to its logical conclusion... and it isn't pretty (although it is kind of funny).

The illustrations are super cute, and the accompanying text strikes just the right note.

I'd definitely recommend this one to readers looking for books about the father/daughter dynamic, as well as to readers who enjoy seeing anthropomorphized animals do things like mow the lawn.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.33 out of 5

Review - Peanut Butter & Santa Claus

Peanut Butter & Santa Claus (A Zombie Culinary Tale)
by Joe McGee
illustrated by Charles Santoso
Date: 2019
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

When Santa gets snowed in at the North Pole, it’s up to three heroes from Quirkville to save the day—but they’re in for an ooey-gooey surprise!

Reginald (the zombie), Zarfon (the alien), and Abigail Zink (the human) are all preparing for Christmas in Quirkville when the terrible news breaks: CHRISTMAS IS CANCELED! Santa is snowed in at the North Pole. The three friends hatch a plan to save the day. They load into Zarfon’s spaceship—along with lots of peanut butter for a surprise Christmas delivery to his home planet later on—and head straight for the North Pole. When they arrive, they find that Santa and his elves are trapped, not by snow, but by a marshmallow cream explosion. With a little bit of creativity, a little bit of Christmas spirit, and one big KA-POW!, the pals from Quirkville save Christmas and inadvertently create a delicious treat!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is stupid, juvenile, and potentially scary for young readers.

In a town called Quirkville, there are all sorts of weird citizens: zombies, aliens, and kids who spend too much time on the internet. When Christmas is cancelled, three of them take a trip to the North Pole, only to find that the marshmallow factory is malfunctioning and spewing sticky goo everywhere. The three kids use the alien's supply of peanut butter to make peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches to give to all the kids around the world, and Christmas is saved.

Okay, first of all, if Christmas is cancelled because Santa's stuck at the North Pole, your priorities might be a bit skewed. Do you call up the grandparents and tell them not to come for turkey dinner? Do you ignore all the other presents under the tree from your own family and friends? Come on. I'm not a fan of Thanksgiving picture books that promote disgusting displays of gluttony, and I'm not a fan of Christmas books that imply that getting stuff from Santa is the most important part of the holiday. What about the people who don't believe in Santa Claus? Does their Christmas get cancelled, too?

Second, the whole peanut butter aspect could be pretty scary for children with severe peanut allergies. Not only are Santa's workshops not nut-free, but he's shown leaving potentially deadly snacks in people's living rooms. (He'd better be leaving some EpiPens, too.)

This book appears to be part of a series about Quirkville and its zombies. Maybe the other books are more entertaining. But this one isn't great. It has a questionable message and depicts Santa's flippant disregard for those with severe food allergies.

Skip this one.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Review - I Don't Like Koala

I Don't Like Koala
by Sean Ferrell
illustrated by Charles Santoso
Date: 2015
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

What’s not to love about a cute, cuddly...creepy toy koala? This is the story of a boy and the stuffed animal he just can’t seem to shake.

Adam does not like Koala. Koala is a little creepy.

Adam tries explaining this to his parents. He tries putting Koala away—far away. He tries taking Koala on a long, long walk. Nothing works. Will Adam ever be rid of Koala?

This darkly funny debut picture book from Sean Ferrell and Charles Santoso celebrates imagination and bravery while addressing a universal childhood dilemma: what to do about that one stuffed animal who just won’t stop staring at you.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Guess what? I don't like Koala, either. But I like the parents even less.

This is basically a book about a boy whose parents give him a super creepy toy. Adam hates the thing, but his parents push it on him every chance they get. I guess they think he'll eventually come around... and he does, but then the parents decide that they don't like Koala. Tough cookies, you pushy jerks. Why did you buy the stupid thing in the first place and inflict it on your poor child if you didn't like it?

The story made me really uncomfortable. If there's a toy or an object that's scaring you, the last thing you want is for it to be continually shoved in your face (or put with you in bed). I felt sorry for Adam, and thought the kid had more sense than his parents. I guess what bothered me is that the kid was essentially saying, "No!" repeatedly, while the parents weren't respecting that answer and were instead saying, "Yes! You'll like it." Consent applies to little kids, too. It's not the same thing as eating your vegetables or wearing your seatbelt; it's not a health or safety issue. If Koala made Adam uncomfortable, his parents should've respected that and stopped pushing the toy on him.

The illustrations are kind of cute and really capture the creepiness of that toy. So while I didn't like the story, I did enjoy the pictures.

Overall, I don't think I'd recommend this one. Maybe if the parents had been a little more respectful of their child's fears, rather than just assuming he'd come around and like the toy. (It almost felt like an ego thing for them, since I'm assuming they're the ones that bought the toy in the first place; that kid was going to sleep with that koala, no matter what!)

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5