Review - Always Remember

Always Remember
by Cece Meng
illustrated by Jago
Date: 2016
Publisher: Philomel Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A lyrically told, beautifully illustrated book that brings comfort to children--and adults--who have lost someone they love

After Old Turtle swims his last swim and breathes his last breath, and the waves gently take him away, his friends lovingly remember how he impacted each and every one of them. As the sea animals think back on how much better Old Turtle made their lives and their world, they realize that he is not truly gone, because his memory and legacy will last forever.

Jago's gorgeous illustrations accompany Cece Meng's serene text in a book that will help chidren understand and cope with the death of a loved one.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a picture book about death. Don't worry, though; it's actually pretty sweet and not at all depressing.

Old Turtle has lived a long life, and when it's over, he returns to the sea. All the other sea creatures remember a time when he helped them or played with them or taught them something. Each memory is then followed by a spread showing the creatures without Old Turtle. But they will always remember what he did for them.

The illustrations are lovely and dreamy, a perfect complement to the gentle text. I really like how this book is presented. It's a beautiful memorial to a friend.

This could be a valuable picture book for people who have suffered a loss. It shows that, although the person (or pet) might be gone in physical form, the memories of their life--and the differences they made in the lives of others--will always live on.

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 - Franklin and the Thunderstorm

Franklin and the Thunderstorm (Franklin the Turtle)
by Paulette Bourgeois
illustrated by Brenda Clark
Date: 1997
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

In this Franklin Classic Storybook, Franklin is afraid of thunderstorms. When a storm approaches while he is playing at Fox’s house, a flash of lightning sends Franklin into his shell. He refuses to come out—even for snacks—until his friends make him laugh with their tall tales about what causes storms. And when Beaver explains what really causes thunder and lightning, Franklin begins to feel much safer.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a cute story about Franklin the turtle and his fear of storms. I could sure relate; I hated thunderstorms when I was little. I'm not sure if this book would've really helped me or not. Most of the things Franklin's friends tell him are things I was told... and it didn't really assuage the fear. But the book is done well, and it might be beneficial to other readers.

Storms make Franklin very nervous. When he goes to play at his friend Fox's house, there's a storm brewing. The kids all play outside until the storm gets close, and then Fox has them all go up in the treehouse. I was glad to see that his mother took safety seriously and got them to all come inside before the tree was struck by lightning!

Inside, everyone can hear and see the thunder and lightning. The lights go out. Franklin gets so scared, he hides inside his shell. (Well, what else would a turtle do?) While they're waiting for the storm to pass, the kids share their theories on what causes thunder and lightning. The general consensus seems to be cloud giants. But then Beaver tells them that Mr. Owl (presumably their teacher) says thunder and lightning are caused by electricity jumping from clouds to the ground. The explanation is fairly good, although he left out that lightning can travel from the ground to the clouds, and from cloud to cloud, as well. Still, for a children's picture book, Beaver gives an easy-to-understand scientific explanation.

I really like the pictures here. The animals and their habitats are so detailed and fun to look at. I like the fact that the characters aren't made so cartoonish that they look unrealistic. Fox and Hawk are especially well done.

Overall, this is a strong children's picture book that explains a phenomenon that lots of kids might find scary, showing them that it's okay to be afraid... even when there's really nothing to be afraid of (except maybe being in a treehouse during a lightning storm).

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - Unicorn Day

Unicorn Day
by Diana Murray
illustrated by Luke Flowers
Date: 2019
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky has bought Unicorn Day by Diana Murray, illustrated by Luke Flowers. The book tells the story of what happens to an imposter horse who tries to crash the most glittery day of the year, Unicorn Day.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

At first glance, this looks like a pretty frivolous book full of unicorns, fairies, cupcakes, and glitter fights. But it's actually about friendship and acceptance. Unicorns just want to have fun, fun, fun! Would they really be so petty as to exclude those who aren't exactly like them? Of course not!

The confection-sweet illustrations might be a bit much for some readers (including this one; I found the Lisa Frank-like colour palette a bit intense), but the rhyming text and pure exuberance of the characters will likely make the book very appealing to kids. Especially kids who love unicorns.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.43 out of 5

Review - Seraphin

Seraphin
by Philippe Fix
Date: 1967
Publisher: Elsewhere Editions
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 28
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

From Hans Christian Anderson award-winning author Philippe Fix, a dazzling portrait of a dreamy optimist filling Paris with ingenious gadgets, toys, and magical contraptions.

Seraphin, dreaming of gardens full of birdsongs, sunny avenues, and flowers, works as a ticket seller in a metro station underground. One day, after being scolded by the stationmaster for trying to save a butterfly that had flown into the station by accident, he learns that he has inherited an old, dilapidated house. Overjoyed by the possibilities, he and his friend Plume set about building the house of their dreams, and much more besides! Philippe Fix's illustrations, cinematic in their scope, have enchanted children since their 1967 debut. In a fresh translation, Seraphin now allows a new generation to experience the wonder and inventive spectacle of the original.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a brand-new English translation of a 1967 French picture book that maybe should've stayed untranslated. What starts out looking like a charming story about a funny little man rather abruptly devolves into a head-scratcher with a deux ex machina ending.

We're introduced to Seraphin, an old man who--for some reason--has never decided what he wants to be when he grows up. He has a short career as a ticket puncher before fate intervenes and somebody leaves him a ramshackle house in their will. With the help of his friend, a little boy named Plume, he fixes up the house. Then he builds a great music-making machine. The friends live happily in the house, which may or may not be possessed; there's a weird incident that seems to have nothing to do with anything, where Plume's sitting by the fire and the sound of squealing sap makes all the carvings and pictures in the house come to life.

Eventually, the government comes and tries to evict Seraphin to build condos on the land. He and Plume hole up in the house until the authorities come banging on the door. Then they build a wooden tower up from the top of the house to escape. Just when it looks like they're about to be caught... they step off into the sky on a set of movable stairs.

Unfortunately, I'm not kidding. The book doesn't seem like it's going to be fantasy, and then all of a sudden it throws in stuff like the moving statues and the walking on air. It's really disjointed. On top of that, it's a bit of a chore to read. This is very heavy on the text for so short a book.

I've seen some other reviewers mention the inappropriate relationship between Seraphin and Plume. I didn't really get that, although I was looking at it through a more innocent lens and trying to remember when it was originally written. There's nothing overtly creepy about the relationship, but viewed in light of our current understanding of sexual predators, it might give some readers pause. (Where are Plume's parents? How much time does he actually spend with Seraphin alone at his house? Why doesn't this old guy have any friends his own age?)

In any case, this isn't really a book I'd recommend. It's too wordy, and the plot goes from intriguing to downright silly in the final act.

Thank you to NetGalley and Elsewhere Editions for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.83 out of 5

Review - The Quiet Crocodile Goes to the Beach

The Quiet Crocodile Goes to the Beach
by Natacha Andriamirado
illustrated by Delphine Renon
Date: 2019
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Fossil the quiet crocodile loves to go to the beach with his friends. Fippo the Hippo, Sonny the Bunny, Ryan the Lion, and all the rest jump right in and splash about in the waves while Fossil watches from the shore. Could it be that Fossil is scared of the water? What happens when Fossil finally joins them? Is he really as quiet as he seems? Readers can find, name, and count all of Fossil's boisterous friends, as well as the rings, racquets, fishing nets, and shells hidden in the delightful drawings.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is more about finding things in the pictures than it is about the actual story (which is really weak). In fact, the book would work without any text at all, since there's no plot. Fossil being afraid of the water is kind of meaningless; he still ends up joining his friends with a splash at the end after a little bit of cajoling.

I didn't bother to try to find all of the objects on every page, but I did find a few. All of the animals are colour-coded with a dot, and there's a growing line of dots on each page that seems to signify how many animals have gotten into the water. I'm not sure what the point of that is, other than as something else to count.

I guess I was expecting more of a story. If you're looking for a book where kids can find all the hidden objects, this might be okay. (Although, if that's really what you're after, Jean Marzollo's I Spy books are probably much more fun.)

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

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 1/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - Buddy and Earl

Buddy and Earl
by Maureen Fergus
illustrated by Carey Sookocheff
Date: 2010
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Buddy does not know what is in the box that Meredith carries into the living room. But when the small, prickly creature says he is a pirate — and that Buddy is a pirate too — the two mismatched friends are off on a grand adventure.

In this first book in the Buddy and Earl series, a dog who likes to play by the rules meets a hedgehog who knows no limits. Their friendship is tender and loyal, and their adventures are funny and imaginative. Maureen Fergus’s text is witty and understated, and Carey Sookocheff’s art emphasizes both the humor and the warmth of this odd and loveable animal couple.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a smart little picture book about a dog and a hedgehog who become friends. Earl the hedgehog is kind of incorrigible, and leads Buddy into a bit of trouble. But it's all in good fun... even if the humans in the house don't realize what's really going on!

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The illustrations are really simple, but the story is cute and the writing is fairly strong. I like seeing Buddy trying to puzzle out exactly what Earl is, and Earl's guesses about Buddy's identity are just as amusing.

This is apparently the first book in a series. I'd love to read some of the others to find out what other sorts of trouble these two can get into!

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.33 out of 5

Review - Fancy Nancy: Chez Nancy

Fancy Nancy: Chez Nancy (Fancy Nancy)
adapted by Nancy Parent
illustrated by the Disney Storybook Art Team
Date: 2018
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Nancy has a new playhouse, and it's time for some ooh-la-la fancy fun! But when one friend wants to be the boss of who can come to play, Nancy has to decide what it means to be a good friend.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Based on the book adaptations I've read so far, I don't think I'd like the TV show. This is another story about Nancy and her family and friends involving decor (the first book I read had the kids decorating the sidewalk with handprints, while this one has them decorating a playhouse). I wonder if there are any other plot points in the show, other than making the Clancy property fancy...

The things that I like about Fancy Nancy just don't come across in these books, and it's the illustrations that really bring the rating down for me. It's not that they're bad... but part of the fun of Fancy Nancy is that she's always wearing some weird and wonderful outfit. Because these illustrations are based on animated characters--who are often dressed the same way all the time--all we see is Nancy in the same outfit: tutu, striped tights, tiara. I much prefer the look of her in the original picture books.

I also don't really like the way Grace is portrayed here. She's the "mean girl" who's made an appearance in other Fancy Nancy titles. The thing is, most of the time, she just comes across as jealous and ignorant, wanting to be part of something, or being a know-it-all. Here, though, she's just cruel. She convinces Nancy to kick JoJo and Freddy out of the playhouse, and then smirks about it afterward and leaves in a huff when Nancy realizes she was wrong to kick out the younger siblings. It's not really the Grace we know from the other books; here, she's simplified to a caricature of a mean girl, and the nuance is lost.

I'm working my way through all the Fancy Nancy titles our library has, and that's really the only reason I picked this one up. It's kind of weak, just like the other Disney Fancy Nancy book I've read so far that was based on the show. Give me Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser's original work any day!

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5