Review - The Most Magnificent Thing

The Most Magnificent Thing
by Ashley Spires
Date: 2014
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A little girl and her canine assistant set out to make the most magnificent thing. But after much hard work, the end result is not what the girl had in mind. Frustrated, she quits. Her assistant suggests a long walk, and as they walk, it slowly becomes clear what the girl needs to do to succeed. A charming story that will give kids the most magnificent thing: perspective!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read a number of Ashley Spires's books the other day and quite enjoyed most of them. This was the only one that wasn't immediately available at the library, so I had to wait. I'm glad I did, though, because it's probably my favourite of her books that I've read so far.

This story will be relatable to anyone who's ever done anything creative. Whether it's drawing, writing, or building an invention, sometimes it just doesn't turn out the way you envisioned it in your head. The Most Magnificent Thing explores how frustrating that can be. The little girl is trying to build something (it doesn't become clear what that is until the very last page), but none of her attempts seem to be working. After she gets thoroughly frustrated, her rather zen assistant suggests they take a walk. And after the girl cools down a bit, she can start to see where she went wrong... and where she went right. With renewed enthusiasm, she's able to finally finish her project.

I like the message of taking a step back (and taking a break) to see the project with fresh eyes. Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in wanting to do something perfectly on the first try that we don't see that what we need is a new perspective.

The illustrations are really cute. I especially like the assistant (the girl's dog); watching his antics is amusing all by itself. (And I love the information about the pictures on the copyright page: "The artwork in this book was rendered digitally with lots of practice, two hissy fits and one all-out tantrum." I think most creative types will be able to relate!)

So this is a really strong picture book about perfectionism and patience. Sometimes books that tackle subjects like this can come off a little preachy. But this one doesn't. It's just plain fun.

Quotable moment:

First, she hires an assistant.

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Review - Brilliant Ideas From Wonderful Women

Brilliant Ideas From Wonderful Women
by Aitziber Lopez
illustrated by Luciano Lozano
Date: 2019
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Discover the stories behind 15 of the twentieth century's key inventions in this fun and informative treasury of trailblazing women, who each made a unique contribution to the history of science and technology.

Car heaters…Monopoly…Disposable diapers…The dishwasher…Kevlar…Maritime flares… Anti-reflective glass…Wifi…Syringes…Submarine periscopes…Diagnostic tests…Lifeboats…Windshield wipers…Ebooks…What do each of these revolutionary inventions have in common? They were all pioneered by women!

Each brilliant idea is presented with biographical information about the brilliant woman who came up with it, including what inspired them. Learn how Martha Coston disguised herself as a man to contact pyrotechnicians and convince them to manufacture her idea for maritime flares, how a New York tram ride on a wet winter’s day led Mary Anderson to invent the windshield wiper, and why Letitia Mumford Geer’s one-hand operated syringe was a medical breakthrough, among other fascinating facts. Full-page illustrations show the inspiration for and use of these incredible inventions in humorous detail.

From lifeboat-inventor, Maria Beasley, to the grandmother of the ebook, Ángela Ruiz Robles, each of the inspiring women in this book achieved their goal of leaving the world a better place than they found it.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I wanted to like this book. The basic premise is great. But this is so, so sloppy. I doubt anyone read the e-book before it was put up on NetGalley. It's full of cut-off sentences, terrible punctuation, and outright errors.

There are two instances that I noticed of dates that are 100 years off (the second one being pretty obvious, as someone who was born in 1947 couldn't possibly have had her invention on the Titanic when it sank). For non-fiction books for kids, I want the factual information to be spotless. The punctuation may just have been a translation issue, but it really should've been caught. (So should the random line of Spanish text in the section about Ángela Ruiz Robles's invention.) And there are at least three instances where the text is cut off in mid sentence, probably to preserve formatting and make the book look pretty.

The illustrations are okay, but there are some errors there, too. The page talking about the underwater telescope shows a periscope (they're not the same thing) and the Monopoly game has kids playing with coloured plastic pieces, rather than the tiny metal objects. There's no excuse for that; those pieces are one of the most recognizable things about Monopoly!

Maybe I should've clued in when I saw the publisher. Wide Eyed Editions also published Super Scientists, which I found abysmal from a technical point of view. I expect a lot better from children's non-fiction, and I can't bring myself to recommend any book with this many errors, no matter how great the premise is.

If this book is edited more closely and some of the illustrations are fixed to make it more accurate, it could be decent. I might also put the inventions in a more chronological order, because as it is, they just kind of skip around all over the place and there's no real reason for the arrangement that I can see. In its current form, though, I can't recommend this one at all. Check out Vashti Harrison's Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World instead; it's also about brilliant women, but the execution is far better.

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

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

Enjoyment: 0/5

Overall: 1.33 out of 5

Review - Mama Lion Wins the Race

Mama Lion Wins the Race
by Jon J. Muth
Date: 2017
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 56
Format: e-book
Source: library

Start your engines: the race is on! And Mama Lion and Tigey are off -- with their cool goggles and snazzy sports car!

Racing teams gather from far and wide for this madcap race. But who will win the trophy cup? Will it be the playful Flying Pandinis? The mischievous Knitted Monkey Crew? Or will Mama Lion and Tigey speed past the finish line in first place?

As Tigey says, "winning is winning," but sometimes the journey itself -- filled with ineffable moments of mystery, beauty, and joy -- is even more fun than getting the prize.

With cars inspired by the early days of Italian motor-racing and characters based on his children's beloved toy animals, Jon J Muth has created a uniquely spellbinding book young readers will return to again and again.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. Although it is longer than the average picture book, it didn't really seem that long because of the nice story and beautiful illustrations.

Mama Lion and Tigey, a couple of toys, enter a road race against a number of others, including some sock monkeys and a stuffed bunny on a motorbike. They race through a landscape that looks decidedly Italian (those particular pictures are very pretty), while dealing with car trouble and sabotage from some of the other competitors.

You know those feel-good stories where a competitor in a running race stop to help another, giving up their lead in the process? That's exactly what happens here, and the favour is eventually returned. The title of the book takes on a new meaning that isn't quite as obvious at first glance. Competition and winning turns out to be not as important as friendship and doing the right thing. (And I like the little character quirk of Bun Bun and how it brings the end of the book to a sweet close.)

I haven't read much by Muth, other than Zen Ghosts, which I found to be a little bit creepy with the children being lured to an out-of-the-way house on Halloween. But the illustrations were lovely there, and they're just as strong here. I would check out more of the author's books just for the pictures alone.

Overall, this is a sweet story about friendship, cooperation, and how you really "win" a race.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - When Daddy's Truck Picks Me Up

When Daddy's Truck Picks Me Up
by Jana Novotny Hunter
illustrated by Carol Thompson
Date: 2004
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Daddy drives a big red tanker truck, and he's away on the road a lot. But once in a while, he's near enough to pick up his little boy from preschool. And today is one of those very special days!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Hmm... The premise of this book is cute, but the whole execution didn't really excite me.

Basically, this is a rhyming story about a little boy excitedly waiting for his truck-driver father to pick him up from school. It's easy to see the love the kid has for his dad, and his anticipation of his father picking him up in the big red tanker truck is palpable. Still, it's kind of a small premise to hang a whole book on, as we basically just witness the kid waiting all day.

The illustrations don't really excite me here. They're rough and scribbly, and while they're colourful, I just didn't feel all that drawn to them. As for the rhyming text, it's very clunky. The meter is off, and the words aren't that exciting.

This might find a better audience in kids whose parents travel a lot for work. I'm not sure if it will have that much appeal to anyone else.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.43 out of 5

Review - Old MacDonald Had a Truck

Old MacDonald Had a Truck
by Steve Goetz
illustrated by Eda Kaban
Date: 2016
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O. And on that farm he had a...TRUCK?! With a DIG DIG here and a SCOOP SCOOP there, this classic folk song just got revved up! Beloved machines—the excavator, dump truck, bulldozer, and more—will have the vehicle-obsessed of all ages reading and singing along.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

When I was little, I had a couple of friends with a little brother who was absolutely obsessed with trucks. You never saw him without one of his Tonka trucks. Every time I read a book in this vein, I think of that little kid and wonder if he would've liked it!

I kind of like this one myself. It takes the classic song and mixes it up a little. Old MacDonald still has all his animals... but they're helping run the heavy machinery to build a course for his wife's monster truck. (When they broke out the motor grader, I wondered what they could possibly be building!)

The pictures are really cute, done in a retro style by Eda Kaban (illustrator of Pink Is for Boys). Watching the animals engage in all the tasks with the heavy machinery is pretty amusing. And I like the way the E-I-E-I-Os are incorporated into the illustrations.

Overall, this is a strong picture book that'll probably appeal to kids who are really into trucks and machines, as well as those who enjoy a twist on the classic song. For kids who are really into this stuff, I'd recommend this book along with Anna Dewdney's Little Excavator. They're both great fun on the construction site!

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Review - A Fish Named Glub

A Fish Named Glub
by Dan Bar-el
illustrated by Josée Bisaillon
Date: 2014
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

In this lyrical story about friendship and the power of dreams, a small and ordinary fish named Glub asks himself the big questions in life as he observes life in the diner beyond his fishbowl. Who am I? Where do I belong? The lively characters around him provide unexpected answers, but soon it’s Glub who reveals answers to their questions — and their hearts’ true desires. The small and ordinary fish discovers that life can be extraordinary. You just have to ask...

(synopsis from Goodreads)

What the actual...?!

Okay, look, picture-book writers. Sometimes you might feel like getting all philosophical, or even turning that weird pepperoni-spurred dream into a picture book. Here's some advice: Don't. If you do, you might end up publishing something like A Fish Named Glub and people will start to question your sanity (and/or possible drug use).

The book uses too many unfamiliar words for something aimed at children. ("Dekes"? Really? My spellchecker doesn't even like that one as I'm typing it.) There are too many idioms and metaphors. And the whole plot point with the fish being able to generate visual representations of others' dreams with an electric current when they stick their fingers in the bowl? Um... what on Earth was the author smoking?

This is just too weird. The illustrations aren't all that appealing, either... but my opinion may have been coloured by the absolutely ridiculous story and pretentious writing.

If this had been published as an adult title, it might've worked. But I really can't see kids liking this one. It's just too weird.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.33 out of 5

Review - The Breadwinner: A Graphic Novel

The Breadwinner: A Graphic Novel
by Deborah Ellis
adapted by Shelley Tanaka
Date: 2018
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Reading level: MG
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 80
Format: e-book
Source: library

This beautiful graphic-novel adaptation of The Breadwinner animated film tells the story of eleven-year-old Parvana who must disguise herself as a boy to support her family during the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan.

Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city. Parvana’s father — a history teacher until his school was bombed and his health destroyed — works from a blanket on the ground in the marketplace, reading letters for people who cannot read or write. One day, he is arrested for having forbidden books, and the family is left without someone who can earn money or even shop for food.

As conditions for the family grow desperate, only one solution emerges. Forbidden to earn money as a girl, Parvana must transform herself into a boy, and become the breadwinner.

Readers will want to linger over this powerful graphic novel with its striking art and inspiring story.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This graphic novel is apparently based on an animated film, which I haven't seen. To be frank, I think I would've rather seen the film. I don't know if it's the e-book format or what, but the text adaptation is absolutely horrendous. Unfortunately, this detracts from what could be a moving story.

Parvana lives with her parents and siblings in Kabul. One day her father is taken away and thrown in jail, leaving the family without a means of support. Parvana cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy so she can go out into the city and make a living. Meanwhile, her mother has arranged a marriage for her older sister, and war is coming. Parvana makes a desperate attempt to see her father in jail, while her mother and siblings end up being taken away by family members.

The book ends like many graphic novels do, as if it's to be continued in future installments (which I don't think is the case here). So I'm not sure if I like the ending; there are a lot of unanswered questions.

The story and setting are fraught with peril and heartache, but I found it kind of difficult to concentrate on those things when the text was so abysmal. It wasn't even a matter of a few typos (although there was a rather spectacular one with "first" spelled as "fiflrst"). Every instance of the word "find" seemed to be capitalized. Random words were in all caps. Half the names started with lowercase letters (but only some of the time). There were missing spaces all over the place so words ran together. I have no idea what happened with the text, but it's awful. Its only saving grace is that it's still intelligible enough to get the gist of the story.

If the physical editions of the graphic novel don't have these technical issues, then this is a decent book. As to the version I read, it seemed like it was rushed and slapped together just to cash in on the popularity of the film. And that's disappointing.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 3/5
Writing & Editing: 1/5
Illustration: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 2.75 out of 5 ladybugs