Review - Time for Margot to Go to Bed

Time for Margot to Go to Bed (Margot the Groundhog and Her North American Squirrel Family #3)
by Lieve Snellings
Date: 2019
Publisher: Lieve Snellings
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 38
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

She cries and asks how she can survive next winter? Lucky she has friends.

Margot is sad because she has to start hibernation. That is very unusual! Her friends help her find out why she's in tears. Together they find some solutions, and soon Margot can go to sleep with a smile.

Want to find out more?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. It's kind of bad. But I also enjoyed it, perhaps way more than I should have. What's a reviewer to do?

This book has a lot of weak spots. The writing is all over the place as far as perspective. The story starts out with Margot narrating, then switches to an unknown narrator who refers to Margot in the third person. Margot's speech is never set off with quotation marks, which is odd. The photos are nice, but the Photoshop work is laughably bad.

On the other hand, the story is sweet and offers some nice facts about groundhogs. And the terrible Photoshop work actually made me laugh out loud. It was the goose working for Canada Post--complete with hat and mail bag--that got me. And how can you not laugh at a chipmunk trying to set up Wi-Fi? This is one of those cases of "it's so bad it's good"... and I'm sure children and adults alike are going to get a chuckle.

This is the third book in the series, so maybe the confused writing style has already been established. That's kind of a shame, because with a little bit of polishing, this could be a great humourous storybook for kids that also teaches them a bit about groundhogs and hibernation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lieve Snellings for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5

Review - Leo's Monster

Leo's Monster
by Marcus Pfister
Date: 2020
Publisher: NorthSouth Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

When Leo, the city mouse, visits his friend Zoe in the countryside for the first time, he meets a huge and horrible monster.

It’s gigantic, has lots of horns, an enormous tail, and when it roars, the earth shakes. At least that’s what Leo saw. Or did he? Zoe thinks his description sounds just like Bertha, the sweet-tempered cow in the meadow . . .

Bestselling author Marcus Pfister skillfully weaves a hilarious story of mystery, suspense and just a hint of scariness.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is quite a cute story. I first encountered this author's work in Who Stole the Hazelnuts?, which I didn't love (I found the pictures a bit creepy). I enjoyed Leo's Monster a lot more... and I would have liked it even better had the resolution of the story not been completely spoiled by the synopsis.

Leo, a city mouse, visits Zoe, a country mouse, and goes outside to have a look around. He comes back to Zoe's place shaken, thinking he's seen a monster. As Zoe tries to get a description of this monster out of him, the narrative and the illustrations both start to hint at a cow (which would've been much more fun to see had we not already been told that's what the monster was).

The illustrations here are really interesting. I'm not sure what you call the technique, but it looks like it's done with acrylic paint, adding an intriguing texture. The style runs throughout the illustrations, and it's used to good effect on everything from the animals' fur to the grass to a steaming pile of manure.

While I think the story is a little weak (and Leo's stammering in terror is just a little overdone), I do think this could be an entertaining book for children. Just don't read them the back matter; instead, let them try to figure out the identity of the monster on their own.

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

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - The Goblin Goes to School

The Goblin Goes to School
by Sara Daniell
illustrated by Alli Kappen
Date: 2019
Publisher: BHC Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

It's Patrick's first day of Pre-k but everything goes wrong when his imaginary friend, the Goblin, sneaks to school in his backpack. What mischief will the Goblin cause and can Patrick and his new friends teach that sneaky goblin a lesson on being a good student?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I think I understand what the author was trying to accomplish here. The premise isn't bad. Unfortunately, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

First of all, the synopsis is entirely misleading. The illustration on the cover is the only indication of the Goblin sneaking to school. In the actual story, Patrick and the Goblin are at home, and then they're suddenly both at school. The other part of the synopsis that doesn't make sense is about Patrick and his friends teaching the Goblin a lesson. That doesn't happen. In fact, Patrick is such a brat that he doesn't have any friends. The only resolution to the Goblin storyline is at the end when Patrick decides to leave his terrible friend at home the next day (as if that will suddenly turn him into a child with perfect behaviour).

The problem is that the book isn't quite sure of how to get its message across. I was reminded a little bit of Sam's Pet Temper by Sangeeta Bhadra, in which a little boy blames his outbursts on a pet temper that followed him home one day. That same idea might have worked here, except for one thing: Patrick behaves badly--and states that he's behaving badly--and then blames the behaviour on the Goblin. There's no metaphor and it's not subtle... and so Patrick comes across as a child who has major behavioural issues.

I'm also not a fan of the way the reader is expected to understand phrases like, "My teacher got mad and made me move my clip to yellow." This is obviously referring to some sort of behavioural chart, but not every school is going to use the same system (and I'm still not sure what the "clip" refers to, since there's nothing that looks like a clip in the illustrations).

As for the illustrations... Let's just say I'm not a fan. The first time we see Patrick, he looks like a teenager. One of his classmates actually looks like an adult male. But... these kids are supposedly in preschool! (I still can't wrap my brain around that. Do preschool kids usually get on a bus by themselves? Also, if this is his first day, as the synopsis suggests, you'd think someone would've explained the rules before meting out the discipline.)

Overall, this is a valiant effort, but it doesn't quite work for me. If a child has the emotional maturity to realize that he should leave the Goblin at home, why is he acting out in the first place? It just doesn't make a lot of sense.

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

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Review - The Diwali Gift

The Diwali Gift
by Shweta Chopra & Shuchi Mehta
illustrated by Anna Koan
Date: 2014
Publisher: 3 Curious Monkeys
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

1 2 3. Whatever Could It Be?

Join the 3 Curious Monkeys Suno, Dekho and Jaano as they discover the most auspicious, wonderful Diwali Gift!

When a mysterious package arrives just in time for Diwali, the three friends can hardly contain their excitement! Sparklers? Bangles? Diyas? Whatever could it be?

Discover the most special gift of all... in this tale of tradition, curiosity, and fun!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I didn't really know anything about Diwali before reading this book. I know a little more now, but I still feel like I couldn't really explain it to someone else, unfortunately.

Three little monkeys (Suno, Dekho, and Jaano) find a package from Suno's grandmother. They speculate about what could be inside. At the end, the secret is revealed and the holiday is celebrated.

The illustrations are really cute (I especially like the monkeys' iBanana laptop). There is one part of the book that did give me pause, though, and that was with the bangles. It comes across as a little bit of a gender stereotype (probably because I don't understand the significance of the bangles, or why boys wouldn't want them). I wish that had been explained, or at least included in the glossary stating that they're traditionally for women. There is a decent glossary at the back, along with some information about Diwali. I thought that info was a little too necessary, however; I would've liked to see more of it included in the story itself so that the book wouldn't need any endnotes.

Overall, though, this is a fairly cute book that depicts three excited kids getting ready for their favourite holiday. It's hard not to get a little bit excited right along with them.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5

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 - Baby Feminists Too

Baby Feminists Too
by Libby Babbott-Klein
illustrated by Jessica Walker
Date: 2019
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: library

Rosa Parks, Mia Hamm, Nelson Mandela, and Amelia Earhart were all once adorable babies--and you can meet them (and more) in this follow-up to runaway hit Baby Feminists!

On the heels of Baby Feminists, here are ten more pioneering icons in a second board book for budding leaders of all ages. Lift the die-cut flaps to discover how cute these change-makers can be, inspiring the next generation of artists, athletes, and activists to join the fight for equality and inclusion. In sturdy 7" x 7" board book format, this is truly a perfect gift for babies and their grownups to share and enjoy.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Is it ever too early to teach your kids about feminism? I suspect the answer is yes. While a book like this (and its predecessor, which I haven't read) might make parents feel like they're doing their part to raise feminist little kids, I question how much of this babies are going to appreciate or understand.

I read the e-book version, but I can see that there are some sort of flaps that are lifted to reveal the baby versions of each of the people profiled. That's all there really is to it. The illustrations--collage-like depictions of adults and babies--aren't that appealing, and I question whether babies are really going to enjoy looking at this (sure, the flaps are fun, but the aesthetic style doesn't really strike me as something babies would like; photos would have perhaps been a better choice).

For me, the best part of the book is the bit at the end with the short biographical profiles of each of the people pictured in the book. But... babies aren't going to care about that, either. So I really wonder who this is aimed at. It's not really for babies. It's more for their parents... and marketing this as a board book just looks like a way to enable parents to virtue signal.

Wait until the kids are a little older and get them Vashti Harrison's books (Little Leaders and Little Dreamers) or Chelsea Clinton's (She Persisted and She Persisted Around the World). All of those books are far more interesting for the audience who's going to get the most from learning about strong women and their allies.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - One Big Heart

One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike than Different
by Linsey Davis & Beverly Davis
illustrated by Lucy Fleming
Date: 2019
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Linsey Davis, Emmy-winning correspondent for ABC News and author of The World Is Awake, brings us One Big Heart, A Celebration of Being More Alike than Different, a beautiful picture book that celebrates diversity as well as the things we all have in common.

From skin, hair, and eyes in a multitude of colors to different personalities and interests, God gave us all special traits and characteristics that make us uniquely ourselves. And we all have things in common too: like sharing fun and laughter on the playground, a sense of curiosity, big feelings, and so many other things that show how we are all more alike than we are different.

Combining lyrical rhymes and Lucy Fleming’s whimsical art, this inspiring story of inclusion and connection is the perfect read-aloud for kids ages 4 – 8.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I got this one from the library without reading the synopsis. I was a little disappointed to find that it's a rather religious picture book, and as such is not really suited to atheists and non-believers (or anyone who isn't a fan of capital-G God in picture books).

However, this book does have some strong points. The rhyming text is lovely, and deftly does what it sets out to accomplish: show that we have more similarities than differences. The illustrations are, for the most part, wonderful. A diverse selection of children is shown, and there's even one little girl who's missing an arm (I think this is the first time I've seen a child amputee depicted in a picture book).

On the flip side, there are a few issues parents should be aware of. First is the aforementioned religious flavour of the book; that's just not going to fly for some readers. Second, I thought there could've been a little more diversity shown; the children are all very Western, and there was an opportunity missed in the lunchtime illustration to show the kids eating a variety of foods (everything on that table is standard Western-culture lunch fare: e.g., sandwiches, pizza, fruit, and juice boxes.) Finally, there's the issue of the food descriptions for skin colour (which even appear on the back cover, further reinforcing the problem). I'm surprised this made it in, given that the author is a POC herself. Her children might be able to get away with describing people's skin with words like "melon" and "chocolate"... but if a white person's kids did the same thing, they'd be liable to get the side-eye (or worse). If we really want to teach kids that it's not okay to use food adjectives to describe appearances, those descriptions really shouldn't be appearing a children's book.

Some of those issues rather narrow down the audience this book would be appropriate for. It would be great for religious children of colour who are allowed to compare their skin colour to chocolate. But I'd be hesitant to recommend it to those outside of that group, no matter how cute the illustrations are.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 3 out of 5