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 - Three Bears in a Boat

Three Bears in a Boat
by David Soman
Date: 2014
Publisher: Dial Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: hardcover
Source: library

From the co-creator of the New York Times bestselling Ladybug Girl series comes a high seas adventure inspired by the classic picture books Little Bear and Where the Wild Things Are.

Three bear siblings break their mother’s favorite blue seashell, and rather than tell her, they decide to set out in their sailboat to find her a new one. On their quest they encounter salty sailors, strange new islands, huge whales, and vast seas but no blue seashells. When a treacherous storm suddenly blows in, the three bears find themselves tossed about in their little boat, far from Mama. What will become of their search, and what will it take to bring them safely home?

This read aloud shares its best qualities with classic picture books: breath-taking illustrations, epic adventure, and a subtle message about taking responsibility for your actions.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Three bears in a boat? Sounds silly, right? It kind of is. But this charming little picture book is more than that. It's a story about siblings, about trying to right a wrong, and about having an adventure.

Dash, Charlie, and Theo are trying to reach the honey pot on the mantel when they accidentally break their mother's pretty blue seashell. Not wanting her to find out, they decide to go in search of a replacement. They take their boat, the Ursula K., and head out to sea. They ask a motley collection of other bears (including some that look like they stepped out of a particular piece of classic literature) if they know where to find a suitable seashell. The bears are eventually directed to a peculiar island. Along the way, the trio encounters a storm, searches under the sea, and bickers a little (as siblings do). But at last they come to the end of their search, and must take responsibility for their actions.

The illustrations here are absolutely adorable. I'm somewhat familiar with Soman's work, having read a number of books in the Ladybug Girl series. The style is similar, but I much prefer the pictures here. The use of colour (especially in the watery scenes) is beautiful. The bears themselves have so much personality; almost from the first page, we can tell what kinds of characters they are.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There's definitely room for more stories about these three mischievous little bears, if Soman ever decides to write them. I, for one, would like to see what other sorts of adventures Dash, Charlie, and Theo might have.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Review - Ladybug Girl Plays

Ladybug Girl Plays (Ladybug Girl)
by Jacky Davis
illustrated by David Soman
Date: 2013
Publisher: Dial Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 12
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

Ladybug Girl loves to play games by herself and with her dog, Bingo. From hosting a fancy tea party, to building tall towers of blocks, to playing hide-and-seek, Ladybug Girl can make any game even more fun by using her imagination. Whether played inside or outside, the games Ladybug Girl chooses will be immediately familiar to young readers and show that anyone can make their own fun. This new board book celebrates imaginary play the Ladybug Girl way!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I didn't realize this was a board book when I picked it up (I had the e-book version). It's not a story like the other Ladybug Girl books. It's just Ladybug Girl doing various activities over six spreads, accompanied by her dog, Bingo.

The pictures are really cute, and if you (or your kids) love Ladybug Girl, you might like this one. I was looking for a story, though, and there's none to be had here.

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 - Ladybug Girl, Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, Ladybug Girl at the Beach, Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad

I found these books the other day on We Give Books. I thought they'd be something I might enjoy. I like good picture books, and I like ladybugs (obviously). While the illustrations were absolutely adorable, I wasn't that crazy about the stories or the characters. See below for my thoughts on each of the books:

Ladybug Girl
by Jacky Davis
illustrated by David Soman
Date: 2008
Publisher: Dial
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

Lulu's older brother says she is too little to play with him. Her mama and papa are busy too, so Lulu has to make her own fun. This is a situation for Ladybug Girl!

Ladybug Girl saves ants in distress, jumps through shark-infested puddles, and even skips along the great dark twisty tree trunk -- all by herself. It doesn't matter what her brother says, Ladybug Girl is definitely not too little!

In this sweet and cheerful story by husband and wife team Jacky Davis and David Soman, one not-so-little girl discovers how to make some fun that is just her size, right in her own backyard.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is (as far as I can tell) the first book in the series. Lulu is a fairly generic kid, so young she can't read, but apparently old enough to go play in the wilderness (or a really large backyard) without adult supervision.  Most of the "plot" is just a bunch of activities she undertakes after her older brother won't let her play with him.

The thing that struck me about this book (and the rest of the books in the series) right away was the weird tense.  I don't think I've read many picture books that were written in the present tense.  It seems clumsy to me, and almost as if the books are training tools for when the kid grows up and has to get used to it if they want to read young adult fiction (where a large percentage of stories use present-tense narration).  In a picture book, it just doesn't work.

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

Overall: 3 out of 5

Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy
by Jacky Davis
illustrated by David Soman
Date: 2009
Publisher: Dial
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

At the playground, Lulu asks her friend Sam if he wants to play with her. Sam likes Diggers, while Lulu thinks Monkeys is the best game. Sam suggests playing under the castle, but Lulu knows that the top is the most fun. They just can't agree! And then Lulu asks, "Have you ever played Ladybug Girl?"

As Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, Lulu and Sam save the playground from hairy monsters and big mean robots, and have their very own parade on the bouncy dinosaurs. They figure out that when they work together, they can create fun games that they both like to play.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

In this story, we start to see the little control freak that Lulu actually is.  The kid always wants things done her way.  I did enjoy the inclusion of some other children (it seemed a little less weird than a preschooler dressed like a ladybug wandering around alone with her dog), but the characters are so one-dimensional that you can't really tell them apart (without illustrations, it would be impossible).  I also question the wisdom of encouraging kids to use pointy sticks as "stingers" to poke their enemies.

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

Overall: 3.4 out of 5

Ladybug Girl at the Beach
by Jacky Davis
illustrated by David Soman
Date: 2010
Publisher: Dial
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

Lulu loves the beach. Well, she's never been there before, but she knows she will love it. And then she sees the ocean and it is big and loud and rough. That's okay -- Lulu wanted to build sand castles and fly her kite with Bingo anyway. But while they are building their sand castle, the sneaky ocean comes in and tries to steal Lulu's favorite pail. This is a job for Ladybug Girl!

Lulu conquers her fear of the ocean when she remembers that Ladybug Girl can do anything, in this gorgeously illustrated companion to the popular series.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This was actually the last of the books that I read, but I think it was my favourite. There weren't any other children to speak of, so we didn't have to see Lulu bossing anyone around. I liked the message about overcoming fears, and I was glad to see that Lulu's mother was (for once) supervising her child. I also thought the father was hilarious; he goes with the family to the beach, but you never see his face. At the end, he doesn't even drive home... the mother does! I guess lying around on a towel with his face hidden all day tuckered him out.

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

Overall: 4 out of 5

Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad
by Jacky Davis
illustrated by David Soman
Date: 2011
Publisher: Dial
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

Lulu is so excited for the Bug Squad to come over for a playdate, and she has all kinds of things planned for them to do -- right down to eating cupcakes. The cupcakes are special because each one has a candle that Lulu thinks everyone should blow out at exactly the same time.

But when things don't go just the way Lulu planned, feelings are hurt and apologies are necessary. Sounds like a job for Ladybug Girl, who knows how to be brave and say she's sorry, even when it isn't easy.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book was probably the most annoying of the bunch. While I did like the Bug Squad (comprised of a ladybug, a bumblebee, a dragonfly, and a butterfly), the way Lulu dominated the other children was irritating. While she did eventually learn a lesson after hurting Kiki's feelings, it almost seemed too little, too late.

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

Overall: 2.8 out of 5


Overall, the stories are not that great. If you can stand the main character, you'll probably be okay with these. The only book I can really recommend is Ladybug Girl at the Beach.  While the illustrations are super cute, I wish there had been better stories to go along with them.