Picture Book Review: Old to Joy by Anita Crawford Clark

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Old to Joy

Author: Anita Crawford Clark

Publisher: Gnome Road Publishing

Publication Date: September 5, 2023

Description

When young Joy goes to spend the day with Grandmama, she struggles to find beauty in all the old things at Grandmama’s house. None of it looks or smells quite the same as it does at home. But as the day passes, Grandmama patiently helps Joy discover how the old ways can bring joy to any heart. Whether it’s the swaying of stately trees, bubbles dancing in a sink filled with dishes, the sweet scents of a lovingly tended garden, or the memories found in a room packed with hats – if Joy open’s her heart and mind, there is beauty to be found everywhere at Grandmama’s house.

My Thoughts

This is a touching story of a young girl and her great-grandmother. At first, Joy doesn’t like all the old things at Grandmama’s house. Then she learns to see the joy in them. I especially loved the hats that Joy plays because they brought me back to my own childhood. I loved playing with my grandmother’s hats. The author’s note at the end explaining that Grandmama was based on three grandmothers in the author’s life made it even more special.

June 13, 2023

Picture Book Review: What if I’m not a Cat? by Kari-Lynn Winters and Kelly Collier

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: What if I’m not a Cat?

Authors: Kari-Lynn Winters

Illustrator: Kelly Collier

Publication Date: June 6, 2023

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Book Description:

A sweet, playful story about identity – and what it means to belong. Why, of course Donkey’s a cat. He spends all his time with the other cats on the farm. He licks his fur and pounces, just like they do. He even cuddles with them at nap time. Though, he must admit, sometimes he does feel … a little off. So, when Farmer says to him, “Donkey, you’re acting like a cat!” it gets him thinking. What if he’s not a cat? And if not, then what is he? Will going off on his own help Donkey figure out what he is and where he belongs? Award-winning author Kari-Lynn Winters’s delightful story of self-discovery uses kid-perfect hilarity to deliver the message that every individual has something unique to offer to their community. The contrast between Donkey and his cat friends makes for laugh-out-loud silliness in Kelly Collier’s endearing and amusing art (ever seen a Donkey perch on a fence post?). Pages are filled with spot illustrations, speech bubbles and action words that keep the visual appeal high. Sure to be a story-time crowd-pleaser, this picture book could easily spark discussions about identity, fitting in and belonging. It also works well for character education lessons on adaptability, inclusiveness, initiative and caring.

My Thoughts:

Donkey assumes he’s a cat because all his friends are cats. But, sometimes he feels different. Then, one day the farmer makes a comment that makes him think, maybe he’s wrong and he’s not a cat at all. Kids will love this story. The illustrations of donkey acting like a cat are so funny. They will laugh outloud when they see Donkey curling up on the farmers lap or trying to climb a tree. It’s such a fun way to lead kids to discussions about finding your identity.

May 7, 2023

Picture Book Review: Holly and the Pittie Party by Julian Frischherz

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a free digital advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title; Holly and the Pittie Party

Author: Julian Frischherz

Publisher: North Star Editions, Jolly Fish Press

Publication Date: July 25, 2023

Book Description:

After her family realizes the puppy they adopted is a pit bull, Holly finds herself abandoned in the city. To make matters worse, many people are unwilling to help her because of the misconceptions about her breed. Holly’s search for love (and food) takes her through the city to a dog park, an animal shelter, and, finally, a fabulous pittie party. Against the backdrop of a culture not yet ready to accept all kinds of dogs, Holly learns that love and belonging are still possible.

My Thoughts:

This is a sweet story about a puppy who is misjudged because she’s a pitbull. It starts out sad, but never fear Holly finds a family that will give her the love she deserves. No doubt, this touching story will inspire readers to give real pitbulls their own happy endings.

May 4, 2023

Picture Book Review: The Boy Who Cried Poop by Alessandra Requena

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a free digital advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Boy Who Cried Poop

Author: Alessandra Requena

Illustrator: Guilherme Karsten

Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group- Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Publication Date: May 11, 2023

Book Description:

A laugh-out-loud story with heart, based on true events about one boy’s trip to the loo and learning that everyone has accidents sometimes.

A father is just trying to take his kids for a refreshing swim in the pool, but every time they jump in…

“DAD! I NEED TO POO!”

By the time they get to the loo: “I don’t need to go anymore!” Sound familiar?
Back and forth, back and forth they go. “Just poop already!” yells the big sister.

Until finally, the little brother… does. Oops!

Based on true events in the real life of one unfortunate little brother…
A laugh-out-loud story with heart, because when you gotta go, you gotta go!

My Thoughts:

This book is so funny and so relatable. While on vacation, Dad and the kids head to the pool, only for Marc to announce he has to poop. They grab all their stuff and return up the stairs to their motel room, only to discover that it was a false alarm. They return to the pool, only to repeat the entire scenario over and over. Each time they encounter more crazy characters on the stairs. Eventually, Dad can’t take it anymore and refuses to go back. But, this time, it isn’t a false alarm, and Marc has an accident. Instead of being angry, all the characters share stories of times they’ve had an accident. The colorful, silly drawings add charm to the books and keep kids coming back to see new details. I love that this book will make kids laugh while also telling them that it’s okay to make mistakes.

April 25, 2023

Picture Book Review: Princess Pru and the Ogre on the Hill by Maureen Fergus

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Princess Pru and the Ogre on the Hill

Author: Maureen Fergus

Illustrator: Danesh Mohiuddin

Publication Date: April 18, 2023

Publisher: Owlkids Books

Book Description:

Shrek meets The Paper Bag Princess in this fearsomely funny story about a savvy princess who looks past appearances to befriend an ogre

Princess Pru’s life is practically perfect. She has two loving dads, an ostrich named Orville, and three royal tarantulas. But one day, a ghastly ogre with crusty toenails and goopy ears moves into the house on the hill. At first, Pru sees the ogre as a nuisance: he disrupts her royal rock band practices, weekly tickle tag games, and even the hide-and-seek tournament. But then she starts to wonder if the ogre is just lonely.

The unsympathetic townspeople become especially terrified when Oggy the ogre is spotted buying cupcakes and balloons. They receive ominous notes (that look very much like invitations), and the kings are convinced that Oggy wants to make everyone into a stew! But with courage and spunk, Pru heads to the house on the hill to meet Oggy—for a party! All along, Oggy just wanted to make friends—and thanks to Pru, he does.

Whimsical, hand-drawn illustrations and expressive characters perfectly capture this unconventional fairy tale about empathy, belonging, and daring not to follow the crowd.

My Thoughts:

This is a familiar premise for a children’s story. A grumpy character is misunderstood, but the protagonist sees the goodness underneath. The fun illustrations and storyline add a quirkiness to the familiar tale that children will love.

April 23, 2023

Picture Book Review: In Your Dreams by Pamela Green

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:

“The adventurous spirit of In Your Dreams captures Boys & Girls Clubs’ legacy of inspiring young people worldwide to dream big and create brighter futures for themselves and us all.”—Boys & Girls Clubs of America

As a mother holds her sleeping baby, she ponders the dreams dancing through his head.

Has he traveled back in time to play with the dinosaurs? Is he climbing tall mountains among the clouds? Is he watching dolphins frolic in the sea, or visiting new friends in faraway places?

Told in gentle rhymes with whimsical illustrations to spark the imaginations of children of all ages, this sweet and timeless book is a story of curiosity, possibility, and, above all, the wonder of love.

My Thoughts:

This is a sweet bedtime story. The vibrant illustrations will engage a young child’s interest while sparking their interest about places all over the world. While baby dreams of adventures around the world, the reader learns the most precious dreams are those of his loved ones. This is a future classic that should added to bedtime routines along with stories like Goodnight Moon and Love You Forever.

April 18, 2023

Picture Book Review: Flower Girl by Amy Bloom

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a free digital advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Flower Girl

Author: Amy Bloom

Illustrator: Jameela Wahlgren

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Publication Date: May 2, 2023

Book Description:

From celebrated and best-selling author Amy Bloom comes a jubilant story of self-love, individuality, and gender expression.

Nicki’s favorite aunt is getting married, and Nicki is excited to be the Flower Girl: she is all in for love and pretty petals. But when the family goes shopping to find outfits for the wedding, Nicki doesn’t feel like herself in any of the dresses her mom and aunt pick out for her, and all her happiness and excitement for the wedding evaporates. Nicki must find her voice—and her own style of expression to match it—to make Aunt Carmela’s big day absolutely perfect.

Infused with intelligence and charm and complemented by art by Jameela Wahlgren that’s as warm and tender as a hug, Flower Girl celebrates the magic of finding the clothes that help us shine.

My Thoughts:

This book has a great message that is a lesson to children and adults alike. Nicki is excited to be a flower girl, but she’s “not really a dress kind of girl”. Instead of pushing her to wear a dress, her family helps her to find the outfit that will make her shine. I love the way Nicki’s family embraces her individuality. Wonderful story with a wonderful message.

April 16, 2023

Picture Book Review: You and Me by Caley Nunnally

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a free digital advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: You and Me

Author: Caley Nunnally

Illustrator: Audrey Schmid

Publisher: Ninewise Publishing

Publication Date: April 26, 2023

Book Description:

Celebrate the things that make us all different!

Each of us seem the same in many ways—we all have eyes, ears, noses, and hands. But those things are also what make us very unique from one another. Where one friend loves noodles, another friend may say, “Eww, no thank you!” It’s these differences that make the world—and each of us—more interesting. Mine make me ME, and yours make you YOU!

The world was made for us to play, learn, and dream. If we were all the same, how boring would that be?

My Thoughts:

I loved the way this book used the senses to show our differences. What looks, sounds, feels, tastes or smells good to one person makes someone else cringe. That’s made okay by the repeating the phrase if we were the same “how boring would that be?” At the end of the book, the author also included tips for parent to teach perspective. This is a fun way to teach kids an important lesson.

April 8, 2023

Picture Book Review: The Little Books of the Little Brontes

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a free digital advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Little Books of the Little Brontes

Author: Sara O’Leary

Illustrator: Briony May Smith

Publisher: Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books

Publication Date: October 17, 2023

Book Description:

Many years ago, the four motherless children of the Brontë family — Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne — lived in a windswept house by the moors with their father. Although their lives were often filled with sadness and their world was only as large as the distance they could walk, their INNER worlds were bound only by their imaginations. Hungry for stories, these children devoured novels and poetry, history, and fables. And with the gift of a group of toy soldiers, they were inspired to make their own stories and their own tiny books . . . a passion that would last them a lifetime.

A moving and atmospheric story about the power of imagination, the joy of storytelling and the love of books, The Little Books of the Little Brontës will enchant both those who love these literary sisters and those who are learning about them for the first time. Includes an author’s note, timeline of the Brontës’ lives and a fun craft with instructions on creating your own little book.

My Thoughts:

This tells the story of the Bronte siblings before they were famous writers. Kids do not need to know their work (Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books, but I won’t be recommending to any 5-7 year olds) to appreciate the story. The siblings lose their mother and two older sisters at a very young age. This book is the story of how the power of storytelling helped them deal with the tragedies surrrounding them. The siblings shared stories and created their own little books. The end of the book also includes directions for kids to make their own little books. I am a firm believer that picture books are not just for kids. Any adult who likes classic literature would love this book.

The illustrations give the book a classic feel and reminded me of the works of Chris VanAllsburg.

March 7, 2023

Picture Book Review: The Most Important Animal of All

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Most Important Animal of All

Author: Penny Worms

Publisher: Jolly Fish Press

Publication Date: June 6, 2023

Description:

Seven children champion an animal for the top spot.

Is it the ELEPHANT or the BEAVER, who both create habitats where other creatures can live and thrive?

Is it the TIGER or the SHARK, who are both top predators, or the BAT, who keeps insect populations down?

Is it the tiny KRILL, a food source for many sea creatures, or the BEE, the master pollinator?

Join the children to find out how special these creatures are in this very first introduction to ecosystems.

My Thoughts:

On the first day of school the students discover the classroom has been transformed to reflect nature. The teacher informs them that they will be learning all about animals. Their assignment for the end of the semester is to determine which animal is the most important animal of all. Seven different students make strong arguments for very different animals: elephants, beavers, tigers, sharks, bats, krill and bees. Pages are filled with factual information about how each animal contributes to the ecosystem. In the end, the message is clear that all animals are important and contribute to the world.

This book would be great for a science class, and could generate multiple lessons. I could easily see it sparking a research project where students pick different animals and justify why they are the most important.This book would also appeal to any animal or fact lover outside of the school setting. With an engaging combination of illustrations, photographs and fact captions kids will keep coming back to this book to learn about their favorite animals.

February 28, 2023