Review - While We Wait

While We Wait
by Judy Ann Sadler
illustrated by Élodie Duhameau
Date: 2022
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A gentle play on patience while a boy and his grandma knit the perfect gift

A boy and his grandmother are waiting for … something. While they wait, they sit and knit, they stretch, they rock, they dance, they snack, and they talk. But still, time passes slowly.

As the hours go by, they fill the day together. They sit and knit and wait. Until—it’s finally time! The long wait is over when the boy’s parents come home with a special arrival. We see what the boy and his grandma have been creating together: a handmade gift for the newest member of their family, created with love.

With a soft color palette and simple, lyrical text lending a rhythmic beat, While We Wait is a sweet lesson in patience that shows some things are well worth the wait.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I've read plenty of picture books about new siblings, but most seem to focus on the rivalry aspect or on the changes in the household that come with a new addition. This book is a little different in that its focus is entirely on the older brother as he waits with his grandmother while his parents are, we assume, at the hospital.

The text doesn't exactly rhyme, but it's got its own rhythm. That changes in spots, which I wasn't a fan of. Still, I liked the bouncy refrain of "sit and knit and wait" that runs throughout the story.

The illustrations are cute and cartoonish, showing a mixed-race family. The limited colour palette works well here.

Overall, this is a nice picture book focusing on an often-overlooked aspect of the new-baby process for siblings: the waiting.

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

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5

Review - Pink Is for Everybody!

Pink Is for Everybody!
by Ella Russell
illustrated by Udayana Lugo
Date: 2022
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A joyful celebration of self-expression and uniqueness

A group of kids is stuck inside on a rainy day, and they’re feeling gloomy … until they discover a pink treasure chest! Inside they find a collection of items that turn their gray day into a playground of pink. Pink is for painters and palace-dwellers, aliens and astronauts, dancers and dragons! In a parade of exuberance that celebrates all things pink, one surly cat stands apart and teaches the kids a gentle lesson about choosing what you love, no matter who you are, while respecting the unique preferences of everybody around you.

This uplifting ode to self-expression goes beyond the binary expectations of gender to emphasize the importance of creativity and acceptance. It invites readers into a welcoming space where different clothing, toys, and colors are enjoyed by all. With a diverse cast of kids and inclusive, gender-neutral language, this book encourages children to embrace their true colors.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Hooray for smashing gender norms and the silly notion that pink is a "girl" colour! This is a cute book about a group of kids who are stuck inside on a rainy day. They find a trunk full of pink stuff, and proceed to have a fun time dressing up as many different pink things: firefighters, aliens, pirates, and dragons. The overall message is that pink is for anyone who likes it. (And if you don't like pink, that's okay, too.)

The narrative is fairly simple, and is really more of a message than a story. But it works. The illustrations are the perfect complement, highlighting all things pink without ending up too garish.

I'd recommend this to all little pink lovers to show them that their favourite colour is perfectly okay. And I'd also recommend it to those who might be giving pink lovers a hard time. Pink truly is for everybody who likes it.

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

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - In November

In November
by Cynthia Rylant
illustrated by Jill Kastner
Date: 2000
Publisher: Harcourt Mifflin Harcourt
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

In November, the air grows cold and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends.

Cynthia Rylant's lyrical language and Jill Kastner's rich, cozy paintings capture the cherished moments of this autumn month--the moments we spend together and the ones we witness in the world around us.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a pretty picture book with lyrical text and lovely oil paintings... and a decidedly American bent that will likely limit its audience outside the United States.

I didn't realize that this was an American Thanksgiving book when I picked it up. And, to be fair, it doesn't start out that way. The book shows how nature changes and prepares itself for winter when November comes around. We see the weather changing. We see the plants changing. We see the animals' behaviour changing.

And then we get to the people. The last part of the book is taken up with Thanksgiving stuff. The food is better. People are nicer to each other. Everybody gets together to give thanks.

Is there anything wrong with that? Of course not! But it does come across as quite Americocentric, and by giving the book this focus, it could be confusing to children in other parts of the world whose experience of November is quite different.

Aside from that, the book is fine. It would make a nice addition to a holiday library of Thanksgiving picture books (especially since it doesn't focus on gluttony as so many others do).

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - The Rain Cloud

The Rain Cloud
by Mary Rayner
Date: 1980
Publisher: Atheneum Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

A cloud full of rain finally finds the perfect place to let it fall to earth.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Sometimes, you just really have to pee.

That's what the vaporous protagonist of this picture book finds out as it makes its way over the English countryside, searching for the perfect place to... well, go.

I'm a big fan of Mary Rayner's books about the Pig family, but I don't remember ever coming across The Rain Cloud when I was a child. It's actually a very cute book, and I never realized how much I'd be able to relate to an anthropomorphized rain cloud. The watercolour illustrations are a wee bit dated (the book is over 40 years old, after all), but I am glad to see one of the moms dressed for practicality in her blue jeans.

Overall, this is a cute story about a considerate cloud and the importance of rain. It's too bad it's no longer in print.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova

Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova
by Laurel Snyder
illustrated by Julie Morstad
Date: 2015
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 44
Format: e-book
Source: library

The world is big.
Anna is small.
The snow is
everywhere
and all around.
But one night . . .
One night, her mother takes her to the ballet, and everything is changed. Anna finds a beauty inside herself that she cannot contain.

So begins the journey of a girl who will one day grow up to be the most famous prima ballerina of all time, inspiring legions of dancers after her: the brave, the generous, the transcendently gifted Anna Pavlova.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I didn't see the subtitle when I grabbed this one. I was just seduced by the pretty cover. This is actually a picture-book biography of Anna Pavlova, the famous ballerina.

The text is sparse but poetic. The illustrations really shine, with their graceful lines and sweet characters. Julie Morstad's style works really well here.

Overall, this is a strong little biography (with an informative author's note at the end). I'd recommend this to readers who like learning about historical figures, as well as to those who love ballet.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - Shrek!

Shrek!
by William Steig
Date: 1990
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Shrek, a horrid little ogre, goes out into the world to find adventure and along the way encounters a witch, a knight in armor, a dragon, and, finally, a hideous princess, who's even uglier than he is!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Huh.

I've been wanting to read this book for years, ever since I found out that the movie was based on some original source material. The library just got a whole dump of new e-books, and this was among them, so I thought I'd better check it out.

You know how they always say the book was better? Well, in this case, it wasn't.

It's not bad. It's different. The illustrations, tone, and language are all quite removed from the lovable ogre we saw on the screen. This Shrek is not lovable at all. He's repulsive. He has absolutely no redeeming qualities.

What's funny is that it kind of works.

I guess the book and the movie are just so different that it's sort of impossible to compare the two. Pretty much the only thing they have in common is that two physically ugly ogres find each other and fall in love. And I guess finding your people is a cool theme.

The movie was better, though.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Eli and the Mystery of the Hallowshine Dragon

Eli and the Mystery of the Hallowshine Dragon
by Eve Cabanel
illustrated by Ekaterina Ilchenko
Date: 2021
Publisher: Twenty Two House Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A moon elf’s journey to undo a dragon’s curse illuminates the power of friendship. Two courageous friends adventure through lands of unicorns, fairies, and magical rainbows to confront a terrifying beast with a surprising wish.

In a beautiful enchanted forest lives a moon elf named Eli and her friend Luna. When Luna’s baby bunny is turned into hard rock candy by magical sugar crystals, the friends begin a journey to do the impossible to reverse the curse: confront the terrifying and legendary Hallowshine dragon for a drop of its healing saliva.

In their journey to find the dragon, Eli and Luna meet magical creatures and travel through various dreamy lands including the Abyss of Time, a marvelous unicorn’s kingdom, a whimsical fairy’s home, and a waterfall with enchanted golden shoes.

The friends race against time to find the mysterious dragon and a magical lesson is learned about how love, friendship, and acceptance can heal all if you have courage and believe in yourself.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a really hard book to rate and review. The illustrations are absolutely lovely, luminous and colourful and appealing. The text, on the other hand, is overabundant and weak, with grammatical errors throughout. And the quest is ultimately a bit pointless.

Eli, a moon elf, is friends with many forest creatures. For some reason, nasty sugar crystals have appeared. If touched, they'll turn a person into rock candy. (A bit dark, I know.) Anyway, a baby bunny gets himself turned into rock candy, so Eli and her friend Luna set off to find the Hallowshine dragon. It has magical spit that will undo the rock candy curse... but only if it's used before nightfall.

That's a decent enough story, but the ending ruins it for me. Basically, the whole object of the quest turns out not to be necessary, and Eli pulls a deus ex machina to solve their problem. Perhaps if we'd known more about Eli and her origins, this resolution might not have seemed so abrupt and convenient.

I can see some readers really enjoying the illustrations in this one. What's annoying, though, is that the illustrator isn't even credited on the cover! It's unfortunate, given that the pictures are the real strength of this book. Children might like listening to the story, but be aware that the book is somewhat heavy on the text, so it might take a bit longer to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Twenty Two House Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.67 out of 5