Review - A Horse Named Jack

A Horse Named Jack
by Linda Vander Heyden
illustrated by Petra Brown
Date: 2018
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Jack is a rather silly horse. And when bored, he takes it upon himself to unlatch his stall and go for an adventure through the farm before escaping into the neighbor's garden for a snack. This rhyming story counts up to ten as Jack makes his way across the farm and then back down as he races home with the neighbor hot on his heels.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is actually one of the cutest counting books I've seen, with a great rhyming text and adorable illustrations.

One day when the children don't come to see Jack, he gets bored... so he lifts the latch on his gate and goes out to have some fun on his own. At this point, the counting begins as Jack gets into all sorts of mischief. Eventually, he encounters a neighbour who's not so pleased to find a horse in her garden eating her carrots. She chases him and he runs, encountering many obstacles on his way back to the barn, counting backwards this time from ten to one. And what does he find when he gets home? You'll have to read the book to find out.

The illustrations are lovely, soft-looking, and perfectly capture the personality of the mischievous horse without looking too unrealistic.

This book was a pleasant surprise. It's not easy to put a new spin on a counting book (judging by some of the more basic versions I've read). A Horse Named Jack manages to tell a story as well as teach numbers from one to ten... forwards and backwards!

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.43 out of 5

Review - Jumping Jack

Jumping Jack
by Germano Zullo
illustrated by Albertine
Date: 2013
Publisher: Chronicle Books (CA)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

From award-winning Swiss author-illustrator team Germano Zullo and Albertine comes this unforgettable tale of Jumping Jack, a champion show-jumping horse whose partnership with his rider has earned him international fame. Victory is expected when Jumping Jack is on the course! Unfortunately, Jumping Jack's success has mysteriously stalled. He tumbles and struggles. What could possibly be wrong? Jumping Jack's loyal rider is determined to find out! What the duo discover will charm readers, not to mention reaffirm their faith in second chances, the power of friendship, and the potential for triumph despite stumbling blocks. A true winner!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

What a funny little book! The anthropomorphized horse is clearly the star here. Whether he's on the psychiatrist's couch or in an MRI machine, he's always pretty amusing.

Basically, what happens here is that champion show-jumper Jumping Jack suddenly can't jump like he used to. His friend and partner, Roger Trotter, takes him to the vet and the psychologist, but nothing seems to help. It isn't until there's a very fortuitous accident out on the jumping course that Roger and Jack finally figure out what the problem is (and how to fix it). Soon, the team are back to their winning ways.

The pictures are pretty silly, but I kind of like them. There's something about the absurdity of the horse acting (even sitting) like a human that's pretty entertaining.

Of course, if you're against the ideas of horses being used for things like show jumping and racing, you might not like this book so much. Those issues aren't really addressed; instead, this is a lighthearted story about a couple of friends who need to solve a problem. As such, I quite enjoyed it.

Quotable moment:

"Surely, two weeks' vacation will return Jumping Jack to his old self!" thought Roger Trotter. Even better, two weeks in the sun would make Jack's coat sparkle and his mane silky.

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 - Albert's Quiet Quest

Albert's Quiet Quest
by Isabelle Arsenault
Date: 2019
Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Albert just wants to read his book in peace . . . why won't his friends give him some quiet? A delightful picture book about finding alone time from an internationally acclaimed illustrator.

There are so many distractions in Albert's Mile End neighborhood, what's a book-loving introvert to do? Desperate for a quiet place to read, Albert storms out to the alley behind his house where his friends and neighbors often meet to play. Lucky him -- not only is no one around today, but he finds an old painting of a beach scene that someone's left for the trash. The painting sparks Albert's imagination, spurring him on a zen-like quest for a quiet reading break on a sunset beach, a moment to unplug and find peace. And he almost does too, except for those meddling Mile End kids . . . who just want to have some fun, as LOUDLY as possible. Will Albert ever find a moment of quiet to enjoy his book? Or could his friends be looking for a book break of their own?

Readers will love this adorably relatable story of a quiet kid, his big imagination and bringing friends together through the magic of reading.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Sometimes peace and quiet can be elusive. That's what Albert discovers when he goes out to the alley to read his book. Actually, he's just sitting there, daydreaming about reading on a beach. But as each of his friends comes along and starts to do their own activities, even his imagination starts to get cluttered and really, really noisy. Finally, he can't take it anymore and he snaps at his friends, driving them all away... or so he thinks.

Albert's frustration is something a lot of people will probably be able to relate to. His reaction toward his friends is not his finest hour, but to his credit, he does try to apologize. His friends obviously forgive him, and everything is all good.

This might technically be a picture book, but the format is really more of a graphic novel. The illustrations are divided into panels, there's onomatopoeia everywhere, and all the speech is in balloons. So, really, it's a graphic novel for kids. But that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. The illustrations, done in a limited colour palette of black and white, orange, and turquoise, are quite cute. I've encountered Arsenault's work before in the adorable Spork. These illustrations are just as charming and help to tell the story of a little boy who just wants some silence.

I'd recommend this to anyone who's ever wanted to retreat into their imagination (or a good book) and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books (NY) for providing a digital ARC.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 3/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustration: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine

Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine
by Zoë Tucker
illustrated by Rachel Katstaller
Date: 2019
Publisher: NorthSouth Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

She invents crazy contraptions, solves big sums, and reads all the books in the library.

Although she may look like an ordinary little girl, Ada Lovelace is about to change the world.

Zoë Tucker and Rachel Katstaller tell the amazing true story of a little girl who didn't go to school, but grew up to create the world's first computer program.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is one of the stronger kids' biographies about Ada Lovelace I've read. It gives a brief biographical sketch in the main text, including her association with Charles Babbage. The biographical notes at the end, though, I think are much more clear. The main text and pictures sort of imply that Ada and Babbage built the Analytical Engine (it was never built in its entirety). The little note at the end talks more about what Ada actually did with her code and translations, so it's a good idea to read that part of the book, too!

The illustrations are of a style that I'm not always a fan of. But here, they kind of work. Although, I was a bit confused by the crow that appears throughout; is it supposed to represent a fascination with bird flight... or did she actually have a pet crow?

Overall, this is a nice picture-book biography about a pioneering woman. Strong endnotes add more interest. I would recommend this book to kids interested in science or computers.

Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - I Wrote You a Note

I Wrote You a Note
by Lizi Boyd
Date: 2017
Publisher: Chronicle Books (CA)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 36
Format: e-book
Source: library

In this deceptively simple storybook from award-winning author-illustrator Lizi Boyd, readers will delight in following a note's unexpected journey and encountering a cast of charming characters along the way. The spare text is filled with the kind of repetition and rhythm that make for a captivating read-aloud, while the humor and childlike cadence will engage readers who are beginning to decipher books on their own. The brilliantly colored paintings share the gentleness of the text but also bring a joyous exuberance to this celebration of nature, curiosity, imagination, and friendship.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is probably one of those books that you're either going to like or dislike based on your view of the illustrations. The story is kind of tiresome, with a bunch of creatures finding the note and using it for different things. I just wanted to know what the note said! (We find out at the end. It's not that exciting.)

The illustrations are really stylized, and if you like them, you might like the book. But I thought they were kind of strange... and yet somehow boring. I just couldn't bring myself to care much about the story as a result.

This is a "it's-not-you-it's-me" book. I didn't like it. But there's nothing objectively awful about it, so your mileage may vary.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Review - Mermaid Dreams

Mermaid Dreams
by Kate Pugsley
Date: 2019
Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Mermaids come in all shapes and sizes! In this sweet picture book, a shy little girl goes on a magical underwater adventure filled with adorable mermaids, silly sea creatures, games with new friends and wonderful surprises!

One sunny Saturday, Maya and her parents visit the beach. Maya loves the beach: the warm sand feels wonderful between her toes. But it would be more fun if she had a friend. Too shy to say hello, Maya watches the kids play nearby, and slowly her eyes droop closed...

When Maya awakens she has been transported to a magical underwater world. Maya admires the sea creatures flitting around her, and she discovers that she too has a beautiful tail. Maya is a mermaid! But who is calling out a greeting from behind that coral? Whose bright eyes are peering at her from the sea grass? Whose laughter does she hear? Could it be a new friend? Or just another sea creature?

This adorable picture book will delight the youngest daydreamers and shows us that making new friends may not be as hard as you think -- if you have a good imagination!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book didn't start off too well for me, with the off-putting behaviour of the parents making me pretty angry. As soon as the family gets to the beach, Maya wants to play. But her parents tell her no, because they just want to relax with a beer and a book. Then they basically pawn her off on the beach population in general, telling her to go play. Safety concerns aside, I felt really sorry for the kid. Anyway, she's too shy to say hello to the other kids, so she just lies down on her turtle floaty in the blazing sun and falls asleep. (The parents are safely under their beach umbrella, and there was no mention of sunscreen or a hat for the kid. I bet she returns from every day at the beach with a horrible sunburn.)

The dream is juvenile and the unappealing illustrations don't help. Maya basically turns into a mermaid and encounters various sea creatures, all while searching for the owner of a giggling voice. Of course, it turns out to be another little-girl mermaid. When she eventually wakes up, she plays with Pearl (the little girl who's the owner of the voice she heard in the dream) while her parents continue to ignore their young child on a beach that appears to have no lifeguard.

I just didn't enjoy this one. The appeal is likely supposed to be the mermaid angle... but there are better mermaid-themed books out there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books (NY) for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - Count on Me

Count on Me
by Miguel Tanco
Date: 2019
Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A young girl sees the world differently in this beautiful picture book celebration of math.

Everyone has a passion. For some, it's music. For others, it's art. For our heroine, it's math. When she looks around the world, she sees math in all the beautiful things: the concentric circles a stone makes in a lake, the curve of a slide, the geometric shapes in the playground. Others don't understand her passion, but she doesn't mind. There are infinite ways to see the world. And through math is one of them.

This book is a gorgeous ode to something vital but rarely celebrated. In the eyes of this little girl, math takes its place alongside painting, drawing and song as a way to ponder the beauty of the world.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a story about a little girl whose passion is math. She's tried all sorts of other things--from cooking to music--but nothing excites her the way math does. She sees it in everything around her. The main message is that everybody sees the world in a different way, and being passionate about math is a good thing.

I do kind of wish the main narrative had emphasized more the relationship between math and all of the girl's experimental activities (dance, cooking, sports, music, etc.), rather than just having her dismiss them as not for her. In the back of the book, we see the girl's notebook in which she talks about things like fractals and trajectories. So while the reader can clearly see that math factors into all of those activities that she dismissed before, the girl herself doesn't always seem to acknowledge the links in the main narrative.

That bit with the notebook at the back is probably my favourite part of the book. It sort of turns this into a fiction/non-fiction hybrid. There's no real "story" otherwise, just a child talking about her unique worldview.

I would recommend this one, especially to kids who are passionate about math. I like the way it shows that math is something that's part of everything we do, and isn't really that strange of a passion to have.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books (NY) for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5