Review - Summertime with Snowman Paul

Summertime with Snowman Paul (Snowman Paul)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2022
Publisher: Yosef Lapid
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 46
Format: e-book
Source: author

Can a Snowman have Fun in the Summertime?

“The story has excellent kid appeal, presenting endearing characters and a cheerful summer setting.” – Kirkus Reviews

Sure, Paul is a snowman – but should that preclude him from having fun with his best friend all year long (including the Summer)?

Snowman Paul doesn’t think so, but hot summer days do pose some obvious problems for a snowman.

Snowman Paul is ready to give up when his best friend (Dan) comes up with a brilliant idea that saves the day.

“A wonderful book meant to teach children the values of friendship and perseverance. Kids will have a blast reading the book.” Readers’ Favorite

Funny and stunningly illustrated with full-page watercolors, this tale will delight children and parents alike. It is ideal for beginner readers, and it will make bedtime fun for toddlers, preschoolers, and even older kids. It makes a great gift, and it belongs in any children's books library.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Snowman Paul is back, and this time he's braving the summer heat!

This instalment of Yossi Lapid and Joanna Pasek's cute picture-book series does require a bit more suspension of disbelief than some of the others. A snowman in winter? Makes sense. A snowman in summer? Well... I'm sure you can see the issues. For his part, Snowman Paul realizes he doesn't really fit in with summer. However, he seems to be more concerned about how other people see him than... you know... melting into a puddle of water during a heatwave.

But never mind. The story is cute, with the narrator, Dan (who also happens to be Paul's best friend), helping the snowman come up with a plan to make summers a little more bearable.

Pasek's illustrations are lovely, as usual, and really set the tone for a sweet summer read.

Maybe a snowman is just what we need to keep cool during the summer months!

Thank you to Yossi Lapid for the e-book copy of Summertime with Snowman Paul.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5

Review - Yara and the Yellow-Headed Parrots

Yara and the Yellow-Headed Parrots (Yara's Rainforest #3)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2021
Publisher: Lapid Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 50
Format: e-book
Source: Amazon

A pair of Yellow-Headed Parrots are guarding a well-hidden nest perched high up on an Amazon Rainforest tree. They are confident that their young chicks are safe in their well-hidden nest. But are they?

In this third volume of Yara's Rainforest series, Yara confronts a nest poacher bent on capturing these critically endangered Amazon Rainforest birds and selling them on the black market.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read the first book in this series, Yara's Tawari Tree, back in 2019. It's an interesting series of picture books, set in the Amazon rainforest, that tell stories around the people and the natural habitat there. Yara and the Yellow-Headed Parrots is the third book in the series (I'll have to see if I can track down the second one), but it ties in with the first book with the healing powers of a special tree.

The rhyming text flows nicely, and the story—about a would-be poacher who has his eyes on some yellow-headed parrot chicks—is both timely and sweet. He's not just a villain, but has his own reasons for his actions, which I found refreshing to see in a book like this. Not everything is black and white.

There's some good info at the back about endangered bird species. Overall, this is a strong addition to the Yara's Rainforest series.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.71 out of 5

Review - Sasha and His Red Leash

Sasha and His Red Leash (The Secret Diary of a Lucky Pup #1)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2020
Publisher: Lapid Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 25
Format: e-book
Source: author

Sasha is one lucky pup! He takes a long walk each morning, he gets a healthy treat when he comes back, and Big Boss Bob, his loving owner, plays ball with him every day. However, Sasha’s life is not perfect. He hates his red leash, but Bob insists that the leash is needed to keep everybody safe. Will Bob and Sasha find a good solution to Sasha’s troubled relationship with his leash?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This cute little book will likely appeal to dog lovers. Sasha is a fluffy pup who enjoys playing with his owner, Big Boss Bob. One thing he doesn't like, however, is his red leash. Sasha would much rather be free, so he does everything he can think of to try to get rid of that pesky red leash. But Bob explains to Sasha that the leash is just for his protection.

The book ends with a series of scenes that ask the reader whether or not Sasha is in an unsafe situation (and, therefore, whether or not he needs to wear his leash). This introduces a bit of an interactive element to the book. The main narrative is in rhyme, so it would likely work well as a read-aloud title. (There's some questionable capitalization and comma use, which further makes this more appropriate as a title to be read out loud.)

Overall, this is pretty cute. The illustrations by Joanna Pasek capture the dog's antics as well as its emotions (especially concerning that leash).

Thank you to Yossi Lapid for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.43 out of 5

Review - My Snowman, Paul

My Snowman, Paul (Snowman Paul)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2018
Publisher: Yosef Lapid
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: Amazon.ca

Are you looking for an award winning picture book just in time for the winter holidays? Snowman Paul is ready for you!

On a snowy winter day, Dan builds himself a nice snowman named Paul. Snowman Paul wants to play and Dan hesitates because his friend Bill is watching and Bill thinks snowmen are dumb... But Paul is no ordinary snowman and he doesn’t take no for an answer. Dan and Paul become best friends and, together, they embark on a series of exciting adventures. Dan’s life will never be the same.

Written in rhyme, the Snowman Paul book series celebrates the magic of winter through the evolving friendship between a young boy and his mischievous snowman. Whimsical and humorous, the stories touch upon serious themes such as friendship, peer pressure, family relationships and values. Vivid and expressive illustrations complement the narrative and bring the stories alive.

Children will fall in love with Snowman Paul! He is energetic and playful, he has big dreams and he is not afraid to be different. If you and your young ones enjoy winter fun, then the Snowman Paul book series will be a wonderful addition to your bookshelf.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I first encountered Snowman Paul when I was gifted a copy of Mother's Day with Snowman Paul by the author. I enjoyed it, so I thought I'd try the first book in the series. While seeing the origins of the sentient snowman was interesting, I can't help but feel that My Snowman, Paul is a bit weaker in some ways. It's shorter, which doesn't leave many pages in which to tell the story (especially given that a number of them are taken up by advertising; only 20 pages are for the actual narrative). Bill, the bully, isn't really used as much as he could have been; he's merely a background presence to be avoided. Dan, the main character, goes outside to build a snowman, the snowman comes alive, the two play a little, and that's it.

The illustrations are charming and work well with the story. I just wish there'd been more of a plot to illustrate.

Overall, this was just okay. As a setup to the rest of the series, it's probably fine. But there's not a lot of plot here. I'd recommend trying one of the other books instead, as they likely have more of a story (Mother's Day with Snowman Paul certainly did).

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.29 out of 5

Review - Mother's Day with Snowman Paul

Mother's Day with Snowman Paul (Snowman Paul)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2018
Publisher: Yosef Lapid
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 38
Format: e-book
Source: author

Dan and Snowman Paul are getting ready to celebrate Mother's Day in grand style! But who is Snowman Paul's mother and how can they both celebrate Mother's Day together? Join Snowman Paul and Dan in this charming new adventure where they explore the meaning of Mother's Day and Earth Day and in the process they learn new things about how families and nature work.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This rhyming picture book combines Mother's Day and Earth Day. It sounds a little unusual at first, but it actually works. After Snowman Paul tells Dan what a great mom he has, Dan asks the snowman about his mother. Snowman Paul's answer is a little bit educational, quite a bit philosophical, and a whole lot cute. The interconnectedness of everything is highlighted, which is a great message for Earth Day... but the importance of mothers is showcased, too, which also makes this a nice Mother's Day book.

The rhythm of the text is fairly good. I did have a few issues with the punctuation, but I'm a stickler for that sort of thing. (It's not something you'd notice if you were having the book read to you, so it won't be an issue for most kids.) The illustrations are a perfect complement to the text. I particularly like Snowman Paul with his tree necklace and funky twig hair. The overall message is a good one, and it's interesting to see how the author combined the two holidays to make a sweet picture book about nurturing and nature.

If you're looking for a Mother's Day book that's a little bit different, you might want to give Mother's Day with Snowman Paul a try.

Thank you to Yossi Lapid for the e-book copy of Mother's Day with Snowman Paul.

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 - Yara's Tawari Tree

Yara's Tawari Tree (Yara's Rainforest #1)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2019
Publisher: Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: author

Yara lives with her Mama in the Amazon jungle trying to rescue her beloved but increasingly troubled rainforest home.

When Yara falls gravely ill, the forest returns the love and saves Yara’s life.

Written in rhyme and featuring vibrant watercolor illustrations by Joanna Pasek, this is the introductory volume to a new picture-book series showing children how all living things on our beautiful planet depend on one another.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read an earlier version of this book (titled Yara and her Mystery Tree) back in January. At the time, my feelings were mixed. I had some issues with the plot and writing. Recently, I was contacted by the author with an offer to read the updated version, now called Yara's Tawari Tree. I'm happy to report that the book is now a lot better; the story is tighter, the potential invasive species issue has been resolved, and the message about the value of the forest and its trees is a lot clearer.

As part of the forest is being cleared and burned, Yara comes across a tawari tree seedling in need of help. She carefully digs it up and transplants it to a safe place. Later, when she becomes sick, the tree returns the favour and helps to save her life with medicine from its bark.

The illustrations are as lush and lovely as ever, and the rhythm of the rhyming text seems to have improved. A book about a little girl in the Amazon rainforest is rare and wonderful as it is... but the improvements made by the author now make this a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Thank you to Yossi Lapid for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5

Review - Yara and Her Mystery Tree

Yara and Her Mystery Tree (Yara, the Rainforest Girl #1)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2019
Publisher: Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Yara lives with her Mama in the lush Amazon rainforest gathering berries and mushrooms and happily sharing her love with friendly animals and plants. One day when Yara falls seriously ill, the forest finds a way to return the love and save Yara’s life. Written in rhyme and stunningly illustrated by Joanna Pasek, this is the introductory book to a new picture-book series showing children how all living things on our beautiful planet depend on one another.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a tricky one. I sort of liked it... but it's kind of problematic, thematically speaking.

The illustrations are lovely, and are my favourite part of the book. The story really let me down, though. Right from the start--in a book that one would think would be about respecting nature, given the setting--we run into problems. There's a plant trying to grow in the forest, but it can't get enough light because of the canopy, and so it's dying. What's the problem? A human girl comes along and assumes she knows better than nature. She digs up the plants and moves it somewhere else. Maybe that plant was dying for a good reason. What if transplanting it and helping it thrive introduces a virulent invasive species into a location where it causes problems? Nature usually knows what it's doing. Humans--as we've proven over and over again--don't.

The second issue I have with this book is that Yara goes on to develop some vague, rare, potentially deadly illness that only this unnamed and possibly imaginary tree can fix. I would have rather seen this part of the story be more realistic. Why couldn't she have had a real disease? Why couldn't she have been healed by real rainforest medicine?

As for the technical aspects of the book... well, they're a mixed bag. The story is told in rhyming verse, but it's a bit clunky in places. And the font that was chosen for all the text makes the whole book look self-published and really amateur... which is a shame because, as I said before, the illustrations are really quite nice. I don't know if they're all that accurate, but Yara and the animals are cute, and the whole thing is so colourful and verdant that it really makes the rainforest shine.

So, overall, this is just an average picture book for me. The illustrations are great, but they're dragged down by a problematic premise and lacklustre verse.

Thank you to NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.71 out of 5