Review - Three Squeezes

Three Squeezes
by Jason Pratt
illustrated by Chris Sheban
Date: 2020
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

When you could neither talk nor stand
life’s hourglass still filled with sand,
I gently held your tiny hand
and gave it three soft squeezes.

When you awoke within the night
And cried from fear and called for light,
I held you safe with all my might
and gave you three long squeezes.

Follow a father and his son from babyhood to baseball games to graduation and beyond in this loving saga about the unbreakable bond between generations.

A perfect gift, Three Squeezes is a tender, rhyming picture book that is an ode to the love between parent and child, no matter how old the child (or) parent is.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book has some lovely rhyming text and a nice sentiment. But I'm struggling to figure out who the audience is.

Do little children want to read books about becoming adults and watching their parents get old and decrepit? Do they care about how a parent feels watching their child grow up? I'm not sure the book is really a good match for kids. It obviously talks about something that other parents can understand... but how many adults really want to read picture books?

That said, it is well done. The verse is wonderful, with near-perfect metre. The illustrations are simple and a bit rough, but they work well with the text.

Overall, I'm just a bit confused about how to categorize it and who I'd recommend it to.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 3.14 out of 5

Review - Job Wanted

Job Wanted
by Teresa Bateman
illustrated by Chris Sheban
Date: 2015
Publisher: Holiday House
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

An old farm dog proves he can learn plenty of new tricks in this perfect read-aloud.

A sorry-looking hound plods up to a farmer to ask for a job. "Dogs just eat and don't give anything back," the farmer gripes. Most animals would be on their way, but this dog dreams up a plucky plan. Why not try to work alongside the cows? The Farmer is thankful but unmoved. Still undeterred, Dog tries to convince the farmer that he could be a good stand-in for a horse and a chicken. It isn't until Dog shines in a role that only a canine could fill that the farmer is finally won over.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Here's a really cute picture book about a determined dog and his attempts to find his place in the world.

When he stumbles across a farmer, he offers his services. But the farmer thinks a dog is a useless creature, and says he has no work available. So the dog asks if the farmer's in need of a cow. The farmer says he is, but that the dog is not a cow. The dog says, "We'll see about that." And the next day, the dog helps the farmer get the milking done in jig time. The story continues in this vein until the dog eventually has to do a job that only a dog can do, and the farmer realizes his worth.

The story is cute enough, but I really enjoyed the illustrations. There's sort of a glowing quality to many of them, reminding me of the golden light of late afternoon. They're quite pretty.

This was a delightful surprise. It's a well-written story with an appealing protagonist, and a happy ending (of course). I recommend this one!

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.17 out of 5