Review - Flash and Gleam

Flash and Gleam: Light in Our World
by Sue Fliess
illustrated by Khoa Le
Date: 2020
Publisher: Millbrook Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

The soft glow of a candle, the blink of a firefly, a burst of fireworks--light is everywhere in our world! Rhyming text and luminous illustrations follow four children as they experience many different forms of light.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Flash and Gleam focuses on the many types of light that light up our world. From the sun to lightning, auroras to fireworks, each kind of light is luminously illustrated. A very simple rhyming text accompanies the pictures.

I really enjoyed the illustrations here. They're absolutely lovely. However, I think the description on the inside jacket of the book does it a disservice, since it isn't entirely accurate. This book is supposed to follow "a diverse group of kids", but they're only "diverse" in a cultural sense. All four able-bodied children are in heterosexual nuclear family units. Today, I think many readers are expecting a little more diversity in other areas, especially when a book advertises itself as "diverse".

There are a couple of pages of scientific facts at the end, which are interesting to read and tie into the various forms of light that are depicted in the illustrations in the main part of the book. My only quibble there is that the book refers to "the dark side" of the moon as the part that's in shadow during a quarter moon (whereas "the dark side" is usually how we refer to the part that's facing away from Earth that we can't see). This could potentially cause some confusion; it might need to be worded differently.

Definitely check this one out for the illustrations, though. I'd like to see what else Khoa Le has illustrated; she has a very pleasant style.

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

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.43 out of 5

Review - Little Red Rhyming Hood

Little Red Rhyming Hood
by Sue Fliess
illustrated by Petros Bouloubasis
Date: 2019
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Because Little Red only speaks in verse, it's tough for her to make friends. The schoolyard bully, Big Brad Wolf, is always picking on her. One day, her grandma shows her a flyer for a poetry contest, and Little Red thinks it could be her big chance to make a friend. But on the day of the contest, Big Brad Wolf sneaks up on Little Red and scares the rhyme right out of her—and into him! How will they rhyme their way out of this dilemma?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a cute take on the story of Little Red Riding Hood, featuring a little girl in a red hoodie who can't stop rhyming and a bully named Big Brad Wolf. Brad torments Little Red every day, but she tries to ignore him... until one day, he scares the rhymes right out of her and into him! It's the day of the big poetry contest, too. Brad is freaked out by speaking in rhyme, so Little Red agrees to try to help him.

I quite liked this book, except for one line that sort of implies that boys are mean to girls because they like them. It's time we get rid of that dangerous idea. Other than that, though, the story is cute and the illustrations are pleasant. I enjoyed the twists on the classic story (especially with the grandmother and her red hoodie). The rhymes and prose are pretty solid, too. So, overall, I would recommend this one, with just slight reservations. (Yes, Brad does eventually learn he doesn't have to scare a girl to be close to her, but the fact that the book gets a little close to the old "boys will be boys" stereotype makes me a little uncomfortable.)

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 - The Earth Gives More

The Earth Gives More
by Sue Fliess
illustrated by Christiane Engel
Date: 2019
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

From leaves falling and becoming fertilizer to raindrops bringing plants to life in the spring, the cycle of every season has something to enjoy. While delighting in all nature offers, we need to remember to respect and treasure the world around us. This sweet rhyming story follows the change in seasons and illustrates how we can all be stewards of the Earth.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This lovely rhyming picture book follows the changing of the seasons and shows children and their families enjoying, respecting, and giving back to nature.

The majority of the text is done in rhyming couplets, with exceptions for the bits that talk about the Earth giving. I think it all flows rather well.

I like the illustrations in this one. There's plenty to look at! The pictures go through the changing seasons, highlighting various activities that are common in the different times of year. The cast of characters is diverse, and if you look carefully, you can see the different families pop up repeatedly in the varying seasons.

Rhyming picture books don't always work for me, but this one does. The meter is decent, the illustrations are a wonderful accompaniment to the text, and the overall message is a good one. This would be a nice one to add to a collection of Earth Day picture books, but the message can be enjoyed and appreciated all year long.

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 - How to Trap a Leprechaun

How to Trap a Leprechaun
by Sue Fliess
illustrated by Emma Randall
Date: 2017
Publisher: Sky Pony
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Legend has it that if you catch a leprechaun, he’ll grant you a wish. But, be careful! Leprechauns are full of trickery. To catch one, you’ll need to be clever in crafting your trap. Grab some glitter and glue and get prepared for your wily holiday visitors!

On the night before St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns show up to steal your treasures and then disappear as quickly as they came. However, if you’re careful you might be able to catch one and then he’ll grant you a wish. You’ll have to be sneaky and set just the right trap to trap a leprechaun.

Sue Fliess’s read-aloud text and Emma Randall’s whimsical illustrations will provide much fun for young readers eager to catch their very own leprechaun! But beware: leprechauns may leave you with nothing but a cardboard box and a shoe or two.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is the only St. Patrick's Day-themed e-book at our local library that I could find. I was hoping for a little more substance. As it is, this book assumes the reader will have some previous knowledge of leprechaun lore. (The note at the end suggests teaching kids a bit about Irish folklore ahead of time, which is probably a good idea. I just wish this book had done that!)

Rhyming text is set off by cute and colourful pictures depicting a group of children trying to catch a leprechaun. This may be my main issue with the book. I understand the myth, but I'm just not sure if I'm comfortable with teaching children to essentially kidnap little magical men for their own greed. If that doesn't bother you, though, you might enjoy this story that shows the kids building a creative trap to try to catch a leprechaun the night before St. Patrick's Day. They paint some rocks to look like gold, throw some glitter on a box, and build a rainbow slide.

The illustrations are nice, with an almost retro look to them. There's a nice amount of diversity represented as well. And of course there has to be a little redheaded girl! This is a book about an Irish myth, after all.

I would recommend this one with a couple of caveats. You might need to explain a little bit more about Irish myths and folklore if you want kids to understand the whole leprechaun thing. And perhaps a discussion about greed and forcible confinement is in order, too; we shouldn't be teaching kids they can hold people captive simply because they want something.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5

Review - The Hug Book

The Hug Book
by Sue Fliess
illustrated by Anne Kennedy
Date: 2014
Publisher: Golden Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: library

Hugs are special. Hugs are free. Will you share a hug with me?

This sweet Little Golden Book features loving families and friends hugging for so many wonderful reasons! There are hello hugs, good-bye hugs, Mommy hugs, Daddy hugs, and welcome-home hugs—just to name a few!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Oh... this is so disappointing. Most of this book--almost all of this book, in fact--is really cute. The bouncy rhythm of the text makes it a perfect book to read out loud, and the illustrations of all the animals hugging are so adorable.

So what's the problem? On the second page, we get this:

Mom hugs,
Dad hugs,
No-such-thing-as-bad hugs!

Okay, yes, it's in the context of hugs from parents, but are little kids going to understand that? I don't like the idea of teaching kids that there's no such thing as bad hugs. If it makes you feel icky, it's bad. It doesn't matter who's giving it. (Teaching consent is important, even at a young age.)

So, with that in mind, I was kind of distracted for the rest of the book, which is a shame, because it was fine after that.

Quotable moment:

Old hugs,
New hugs,
Nice-to-see-you-too hugs!

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.14 out of 5

Review - Robots, Robots Everywhere

Robots, Robots Everywhere
by Sue Fliess
illustrated by Bob Staake
Date: 2013
Publisher: Golden Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: library

"On the ground and in the air, /Robots, robots everywhere!
Up in space, beneath the seas, /Robots make discoveries..."

So begins this rollicking Little Golden Book featuring robots of all kinds, from ones up in space to the ones we use at home. With bold, colorful artwork by award-winner Bob Staake, it's a perfect introduction to the fascinating subject of today's real robots!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is one of the newer Little Golden Books, being published in 2013. I can only imagine what the kids who read the original books back in the 1940s would have thought of this one!

Robots, Robots Everywhere is a cute rhyming book with colourful, detailed illustrations about various types of robots. It reminds me of a school report I had to do when I was around seven on the subject of robots. They're basically machines that do work... so that includes everything from milking machines to today's robot vacuums. Some examples of robots we might see in the future (such as human-like robot playmates and robot dogs) are also included.

The rhythm of the text is quite nice, and there's plenty to look at in the pictures. This would be a great book for kids who are interested in robots and technology.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5