Machines at Work

Machines at Work. Byron Barton. 1987. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Hey, you guys! Let's get to work. Knock down that building. Bulldoze that tree. Dig up that road.

Premise/plot: It's not just machines at work in Byron Barton's Machines at Work. Little ones also see construction workers working hard all day.

My thoughts: It doesn't take a lot of words to tell a good story. Though though are just a few words per page, Barton's Machines at Work tells an enjoyable story. The illustrations are also super-simple. In a few illustrations, the construction workers reminded me of duplo people. Speaking of which, this would be a fun story to act out with duplos!

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Hole Story

The Hole Story. Paul Bright. Illustrated by Bruce Ingman. 2016. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: In a land of strange happenings, far, far away, lived two holes, Hamish and Hermione. Their home was a chunk of Swiss cheese, on a plate, in the kitchen, in the royal palace. One day, a family of mice came along and ate all the cheese. The cook chased the mice away, but now the two holes had nowhere to live.

Premise/plot: Hamish and Hermione are looking for a new place to live. These holes have some rough times ahead of them. Because NO ONE wants these two holes around. Places they try to move include: the king's sock, the queen's knickers, the princess's bicycle tire, the prince's row boat. Will these two EVER find a place to live?

My thoughts: Love odd books? You should really pick up The Hole Story. Readers meet a King and Queen and their family, but the ones that really steal the show, are two little holes. For the right reader, I think this one will be pure delight. But not every reader will be the right reader. Alas, this is the case with every book. It is unique, you have to give it that. How many other books about holes do you know?

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

I Won't Eat That

I Won't Eat That. Christopher Silas Neal. 2017. [November] Candlewick Press. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Dogs eat dog food. Fish eat fish food. But I'm a cat, and I will NOT eat cat food. It's dry and dull and not very yummy. Yuck. But if I don't eat cat food, what will I eat?

Premise/plot: The cat in Christopher Silas Neal's I Won't Eat That is a very picky eater. He knows one thing: cat food is not for him. But what is the right food for him? Cat goes around asking all sorts of animals what they eat. He rejects their answers one by one. Too wiggly. Too bouncy. Too boring. Will Cat find his answer?

My thoughts: I liked this one. Picky eating isn't necessarily a new subject in picture books. But it feels right for a cat to be picky about what he/she eats. Is this one completely realistic?! Perhaps not. I don't know what kind of neighborhood Cat lives in, but his quest takes him to a fox, a lion, a whale, a chimp, a turtle, and an elephant! Certainly not the animals you'd expect.

The twist. I kept expecting a twist. I had a feeling that Cat would ask the wrong animal what they ate. I did NOT want to see curiosity killing the cat. That is NOT the case. But Cat's not the only animal asking questions. And curiosity ends up killing someone....

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Quilt Story

The Quilt Story. Tony Johnston. Illustrated by Tomie dePaola. 1985. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: A little girl's mother made the quilt to keep her warm when the snow came down, long ago. She stitched the quilt by a yellow flame, humming all the time. She stitched the tails of falling stars. And she stitched the name, Abigail.

Premise/plot: This book is a story of a quilt. The picture book opens with the quilt's creation. The picture book closes with the quilt's recreation. In between, readers meet two different girls who love, love, love the quilt; girls who take comfort from the quilt. In between, readers see different mothers fixing and repairing the quilt as needed. 

My thoughts: I really loved this one. When the quilt was put in the attic and forgotten, I admit I was SAD. I didn't want the quilt to be found and used by MICE. I didn't want the mice to eat it. I was so happy when the quilt was rediscovered by a new generation. I'm guessing it was several generations removed from the original owner. I don't know if a quilt is really as easy to repair as this picture book makes it appear.

This picture book reminded me of an Alice Walker short story, Everyday Use. Adults who read and enjoy The Quilt Story should read it.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

If You See A Kitten

If You See A Kitten. John Butler. 2002. Peachtree. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: If you see a cuddly kitten...say, "Ahhh!" If you see a pudgy pig...say, "Peee-ew!" If you see a dozing dormouse...say, "Shhh!" If you see some slimy slugs...say, "Yuck!" If you see a pretty peacock...say, "Oooh!"

Premise/plot: John Butler's If You See A Kitten introduces animals and emotions to the very young. I suppose that is as good a premise as I can do.

My thoughts: I'll start with what I love: I REALLY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the kitten illustrations on the cover, the title page, and the second spread. Actually, the illustrations are far preferable to the text. I really enjoyed how realistic most of them were. In particular the kitten, the pig, the elephant, and the alligator.

What I liked: I think that parents or teachers could take the basic pattern of this one and have children write and draw their own books.

If you see a kitten....
If you see a puppy....
If you see a friend....
If you see a rainbow....
If you see a cookie...

What I didn't quite love: I wasn't sure why the author wanted little ones to react in specific ways to the animals. I, for one, thought the pig was nearly as adorable as the kitten. Of all the animals presented, only four had positive reactions modeled: the kitten, the dormouse, the peacock, and the elephant.

Text: 2 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Big Cat

Big Cat. Ethan Long. 2016. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Big Cat can nap.

Premise/plot: Big Cat is an I Like To Read book published by Holiday House. It features two siblings: a brother and a sister. Both LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to play with "Big" Cat. Does Big Cat love to play with them too?!

My thoughts: The text is simple and a bit repetitive. Some sentences repeat. But the text combined with the illustrations make for one great entertaining story. The text tells a simple story. The illustrations tell a whole other story. They add humor and some depth to the story. The text perhaps tells the story from the point of view of the children. The illustrations perhaps tell the story from the point of view of the CAT. Illustrations are a big part of reading and learning to read.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Babies Can Sleep Anywhere

Babies Can Sleep Anywhere. Lisa Wheeler. Illustrated by Carolin Buzio. 2017. Harry N. Abrams. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Puppy dogs sleep in a pile on a rug. Kitty cats snooze in a chair. A turtle tucks into his shell nice and snug. But babies can sleep anywhere.

Premise/plot: This picture book is a poem in disguise. There are a lot of animals in this one--sleeping animals. Each animal introduced sleeps somewhere special. But the refrain remains the same throughout: But babies can sleep anywhere. The illustrations give us just a few examples of where babies might sleep.

My thoughts: Can babies sleep anywhere? Probably. Will babies sleep anywhere? That might depend on YOUR baby. In fact, there might be new parents out there asking: Do babies sleep at all?! Babies don't always sleep when you want, where you want, for as long as you want. But one fact remains: BOOKS and BABIES belong together. It's never too early to start reading to your little one. And the rhythm and rhyme of this one makes it a good choice.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: I'm Sunny

I'm Sunny. (My First Comics) Jennifer L. Holm. 2016. 22 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: This is Sunny. What makes you happy?

Premise/plot: I'm Sunny introduces the characters Sunny and Tizzy. (Tizzy is a tornado who stars in his own book, I'm Silly!) What makes Sunny happy? A balloon--a red one. Everything is going okay until Tizzy wants a turn with the balloon. Sunny does not want to share. Will these two work it out?

My thoughts: I liked it okay. I enjoyed the other books in the 'My First Comics' series more. But it wasn't bad. I would recommend reading all four books. This one on its own, well, it isn't the most thrilling book. But introduced as part of a set, and it might make a better impression. 

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: I'm Grumpy

I'm Grumpy. (My First Comics) Jennifer L. Holm. 2016. 22 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: This is Grumpy Cloud. Why are you so grumpy?

Premise/plot: Grumpy Cloud is grumpy. There are reasons, but, not reasons that cheery people like Sunny can understand. Sunny tries--and fails--to cheer up Grumpy. The harder Sunny tries to make Grumpy happy, the angrier Grumpy gets. The result? Thunder. Will Grumpy and Sunny make up after their fight?

My thoughts: I liked it. It was easy to relate to Grumpy's bad day. I can understand why Sunny's good intentions ended up failing. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a grumpy person is to give them space--plenty of space. That being said, Grumpy does a very nice thing to try to make it up to Sunny. This is one in a series of four books called My First Comics. I'd recommend the whole series. 

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Imagine That!

Imagine That! How Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat. Judy Sierra. Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. 2017. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: 1954 was a great year to be a kid. There were five-cent doughnuts and one-cent lollipops. Rock and roll had just hit the record shops. Bookstores brimmed with exciting new books, like Charlotte's Web, The Lord of the Rings, and Horton Hears a Who! 1954 was a great year to be a kid, unless you were trying to learn how to read.

Premise/plot: Imagine That tells the dual story of how Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat and the Hat (and Green Eggs and Ham) and  also how beginning readers got their start in the publishing world. The problem facing teachers--and parents--in 1954 was this: School readers were too boring--nobody wanted to read them. Therefore kids were struggling to transition from reading a few words to reading whole books. Dr Seuss was given a list of 236 words to use to write this new book, this beginning reader. Was he up to the challenge?
 
My thoughts: It is hard for me to imagine a world without beginning readers. I think my favorite thing about this one was that it showed the creative writing process.

Ted pondered how kids learned to read. He had a hunch that easy rhymes and funny drawings would help them guess the words they didn't know. He used tricks to coax readers to turn the pages. For example, he put the word BUMP in huge letters at the top-right edge of page five. What made that BUMP sound? Kids had to turn the page to find out. 

I enjoyed the illustrations. I loved the blend of new illustrations showing Dr. Seuss hard at work but also highlighting Seuss' classic illustrations.



© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Found Dogs

Found Dogs. Erica Sirotich. 2017. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: 1 dog, long and low. 2 dogs, silver and slow. 3 dogs, quivering, shivering. 4 dogs, dressed for snow.

Premise/plot: Found Dogs is set at a city shelter. First readers count from one to ten meeting all the shelter dogs. Then readers count backwards from ten as each dog is adopted and finds a forever family.

My thoughts: I liked it. I did. If you're a dog lover, then I think this would be a good choice to share with little ones. I think it would make a good read aloud. It rhymes. The language is quite descriptive as well.

Text: 3.5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3.5 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Follow The Track All The Way Back

Follow the Track All The Way Back. Timothy Knapman. Illustrated by Ben Mantle. 2017. Candlewick. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Today was a big day for Little Train. He was going out on the track all by himself for the very first time!

Premise/plot: Little Train's first day of independence leads to new adventures. But will Little Train remember how to get back home at the end of the day?

My thoughts: I liked this one. I am always glad to see new train books published. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. New train books mean a possible break from reading old train books, beloved old train books. The illustrations are wonderful in this one. The story is predictable. The title says it all. But predictable isn't always a bad thing. There are only so many things a train on a track can do.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 10 out of 10


© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

World Pizza

World Pizza. Cece Meng. Illustrated by Ellen Shi. 2017. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The tall hill with the cherry trees and the soft grass for chairs was the best place to look for a wishing star. Mama found such a star, the first to be seen in more than one hundred years. It was not the brightest nor the biggest in the sky that night, but it was still a true wishing star. So Mama made her wish. "I wish for world peace-ah...ahh...ahh-CHOO!" said Mama.

Premise/plot: When Mama wishes for world peace, her sneeze interrupts the wish. Her wish does come true, but not exactly in the way she expects. Will a pizza for every family usher in world peace?!

My thoughts: This is a gimmick-driven picture book. Who would ever admit to wishing for something besides world peace though?! The Mama pictures world peace as "a world filled with kindness and love and no fighting." By the end of the book the fact that every single person "ate until their bellies were full and everyone was happy" brought about a "world filled with kindness and love and no fighting." I also found this one to be a little too wordy.

I found the book to have a ridiculous premise. The foundation of it is shaky at best. Can families even agree among themselves on pizza? For example, there's the question of crust: thin, hand-tossed, deep dish. Then there's the question of toppings. It can be difficult for even two people to agree on toppings--let alone a whole family. How many families have picky eaters?!

I also struggle to see pizza uniting the world because not every one can eat pizza. Not every one can eat wheat; not every one can eat cheese; not every one can eat tomatoes. Not everyone *should* eat pizza either. But that's a whole other subject, isn't it: eating healthy.

In this book, to be fair, no person is given a choice in the pizza. The pizza falls from the sky, lands where it wills, and it is what it is. You don't have a choice in toppings or crust. You also don't have a say as to if the pizza falls on you directly--or the ground, a car, a tree. I don't know about you--but even if I could eat pizza (I can't) I wouldn't eat one that had landed on the grass, on the sidewalk, on the street, on a car, on a bush or tree, on anything really. I don't think the "five second rule" would really come into play as far as I'm concerned.

I'm imagining a pizza landing right in front of me. And it would not make me happy if I couldn't eat it. The universe would be teasing me. Why couldn't the star deliver pizzas world-wide in a box?!

Also, keeping it practical. If world peace is established on full bellies, what happens when those full bellies are empty. If there's one thing you can rely on--it's the fact that no matter how much you stuff yourself, you will be hungry again. Or HONgry. I couldn't think of a shallower foundation for world peace than a full belly.

One last note, one of my favorite Garfield episodes features Garfield trying to force the Buddy Bears to fight. (Oh, we are the buddy bears we always get along...) He breaks these friends apart with pizza.

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Not Quite Narwhal

Not Quite Narwhal. Jessie Sima. 2017. 36 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Kelp was born deep in the ocean. He knew early on that he was different from the other narwhals. His tusk wasn't as long as everyone else's, he had different tastes in food, and he wasn't a very good swimmer. But his friends didn't seem to mind, so Kelp decided he wouldn't either.

Premise/plot: Kelp, the hero of Jessica Sima's Not Quite Narwhal, is a unicorn being raised by narwhals. Of course, he doesn't know he's really a unicorn. And he meets other unicorns almost by accident. He thinks they are land narwhals. Does Kelp belong in the sea or on land? Which family does he really belong to?

My thoughts: It was okay. I know that there are hundreds of reviews saying this is the best book ever. But me, I didn't feel it. I liked it okay. Perhaps I would have loved it if I had a special "love" for unicorns?

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

His Royal Highness, King Baby

His Royal Highness, King Baby: A Terrible True Story. Sally Lloyd-Jones. Illustrated by David Roberts. 2017. Candlewick Press. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Once upon a time, there was a happy family: a mom, a dad, a gerbil, and the most beautifulest, cleverest, ever-so-kindest Princess with long, flowing wondrous hair. (In fact, actually she is ME!)

Premise/plot: A big sister hates her new baby brother. Will these two ever be friends?

My thoughts: I liked this one. The focus is on two siblings. We have the big sister princess who goes from being the center of attention to an orphan servant girl, from her perspective. We have the baby brother, the "King Baby," who undeservedly takes all the attention even though he is horrible and boring and obnoxious, from her perspective. Readers always know exactly what this princess is thinking by paying attention to her ART. (Children may get the giggles by all the drawings of baby bottoms and POOP).

Speaking of art, in addition to the sister's art throughout we have the illustrations by David Roberts. I would hope Roberts' illustrations place this book firmly in the 1970s. Or else there's no excuse for this royal family's taste. I think my favorite thing is that the Princess' long, flowing hair is in reality a pair of hose. In every single picture, this child is wearing HOSE on her head. (To play a fairy, she switches to green tights.)

Honestly, I'm not sure what to make of the illustrations. On the one hand, they are not my style at all. All the characters have rosy cheeks, for example, and none of the characters look attractive (passably attractive.) On the other hand, the characters do have this over-the-top vintage vibe going for them. And the CLOTHES are out of sight.

Back to the text, this one is very wordy and descriptive. This one would probably be better for K-2 than for younger preschool. (Unless your child is gifted with a long attention span).

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mitzi Tulane, Preschool Detective in the Secret Ingredient

Mitzi Tulane, Preschool Detective in the Secret Ingredient. Lauren McLaughlin. Illustrated by Debbie Ohi. 2017. Random House. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Mitzi Tulane, Preschool Detective, was playing with her friend Max. They had already investigated Mommy's shoe closet; spied on Daddy, who was on the phone with someone named "Work"...and searched for evidence under Baby Kev's crib. It was a slow day. Until snack time rolled around.

Premise/plot: Mitzi is just about to take a bite of a muffin--a homemade muffin--when her friend, Max warns her of danger. Muffins can hide SECRET ingredients: ingredients like vegetables. Max should know. He's accidentally eaten foods with HIDDEN spinach. So Mitzi takes his advice seriously. In fact, the muffin becomes her next case. Can Mitzi use her skills--and the skills of her neighbors in the apartment building--to find out the truth? Did Mitzi's dad try to sneak a vegetable in a tasty-looking muffin?!

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I liked some of the details that came through in the illustrations. I like that Mitzi and Max are playing tent, for example. I liked that Gigi Gaboo (the doll) accompanies Mitzi everywhere. I thought Bun Bun was super adorable.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10
© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Peppa Pig and the Library Visit

Peppa Pig and the Library Visit. Candlewick. 2017. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: It's bedtime for Peppa and George. "Could we have a story, please?" asks Peppa. "Okay," says Mummy Pig. "Here's the one about the red monkey." "We always read that one," says Peppa. "The red monkey takes a bath, brushes his teeth, and goes to sleep. Let's choose another book instead."

Premise/plot: Peppa Pig and the Library Visit is a book based on an episode of the Peppa Pig show. In this episode, the family visits the library to return Daddy Pig's VERY overdue library book, The World of Concrete. While there, Peppa Pig picks out three new books to take home. One of them features the Red Monkey having ADVENTURES.

My thoughts: I really love, love, love some episodes of Peppa Pig. This one is a great episode. It makes sense to turn it into a book. I don't equally love all the Peppa Pig books. Some are quite honestly a bit on the boring side. But this one isn't. This one is entertaining for the most part. I would consider it a must if your little one loves all things Peppa.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo. Emma Garcia. 2017. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Chugga chugga choo choo...here comes the train! Clickety clack on the track. Going to...the seaside. We can taste the ice cream.

Premise/plot: This train has four cars--all numbered. As the train goes from stop to stop or destination to destination, the train picks up passengers--BIRDS. I'm doing a poor job of saying this is both a COUNTING book and a TRAIN book. The book also follows a certain pattern or rhythm...making it predictable. Many books for this age group are predictable. It's a positive, not a negative!

My thoughts: I liked it well enough. I didn't love, love, love it. I would be curious to kid-test this one to see how well it works. I can't stress this enough: kids and adults experience picture books differently. And a book can wow adults and flop with the intended audience. Likewise, a book that bores or annoys or confuses adults can be a child's BEST BOOK EVER. I think this one has some potential in a shared reading experience. Parents--caregivers--can make it more interactive, ask questions, point out things, count together, do animal noises or other sound effects, add their own commentary, etc.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mitzi Tulane, Preschool Detective in What's That Smell?

Mitzi Tulane, Preschool Detective in What's That Smell? Lauren McLaughlin. Illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. 2016. Random House. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Mitzi Tulane knew every smell that came from her kitchen. As a detective, it was her job to know what happened at 123 Maple Street. There was breakfast, which smelled of burnt toast. There was lunch, which smelled of peanut butter. And there was dinner, which smelled of burnt chicken. But this smell stumped her.

Premise/plot: Mitzi Tulane is a preschool detective. Helping her out on this case, and maybe all her cases, is her doll Gigi Gaboo. In this first adventure, Mitzi is trying to detect what the GOOD smell coming from the kitchen is. Will Mitzi be the last in her house to know what's going on? Maybe, maybe not. Baby Kev isn't much in the know either.

My thoughts: I liked it okay. But I didn't love, love, love it. I find it hard to believe that Mitzi is really so very, very clueless that it's her birthday. That being said, this one has some cute elements in it. I liked seeing what Gigi Gaboo was doing on each two-page spread.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

This is a Good Story

This is a Good Story. Adam Lehrhaupt. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]



First sentence: Our story begins with Hero. Or is it Heroine? Both? Yes, that works! Both. Let's try that again. Our story begins with Hero and Heroine. They live in a good town, filled with good people called our Setting. As with any Good Story, ours has a Conflict, a problem that needs fixing. And it's a good thing, too, because without a Conflict there would be no Plot. Our story would go nowhere.

Premise/plot: The narrator of this one is eager to help a little girl write a GOOD STORY.

My thoughts: I LOVE this one. The little girl is both author and illustrator. The narrator is teaching her about the elements of creative writing. Teaching by showing, not telling. It is a fun story about the creative process. It introduces some key terms, but, the educational value of the book doesn't distract from the entertainment value of the book. Will the evil overlord keep the townsfolk in his dungeon forever?! Will Hero and Heroine save the day?!

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Wolf in the Snow

Wolf in the Snow. Matthew Cordell. 2017. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

 First sentence: Bark! bark! bark!

Premise/plot: Wolf in the Snow is nearly wordless. Technically, it's not wordless. It features words like "bark," "huff," "whine," "growl," and "howl." The story isn't hard to follow--which is nice. A young girl, on her way home from school, gets lost in a snow storm or blizzard. A young wolf cub gets lost--separated from the pack--as well. These two find each other. But will they find their way to where they belong?

My thoughts: It was okay. I did appreciate that the story was easy to follow. I have read some wordless or nearly wordless books that made little sense--at least on first reading.

There are several scenes before the title page. After the title page, the first scene shows a LOT of children leaving school all bundled up. We follow one little girl, wearing a RED COAT. She meets a WOLF. I do hope the other children made it home safely. The school appeared to be a one-room schoolhouse. It definitely has an old school feel about it. (The home she lives at appears to be a log cabin type home.) I do like how the wolf pack help the girl and help her get rescued. That was nice.

Is the story meant to be historical? If it was. WHY do the two men searching for the girl carry flashlights?! And if the story isn't historical, where is it set that a one room school house makes sense?! I'm not sure a child would ask these types of questions. (Though maybe they would.) But I had questions that were not answered. I was left puzzled by this one.

Text: 2 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Picture Book Suggestions for Cybils

Because of Thursday. Patricia Polacco. 2016. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Tea with Oliver. Mika Song. 2017. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

copy]

A Perfect Day. Lane Smith. 2017. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

Counting with Tiny Cat. Viviane Schwarz. 2017. Candlewick. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Hooray for Books. Brian Won. 2017. HMH. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Mouse and Hippo. Mike Twohy. 2017. Simon Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

Here Comes Teacher Cat. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Claudia Rueda. 2017. 88 pages. [Source: Library]

Bear's House of Books. Poppy Bishop. Illustrated by Alison Egson. 2017. 25 pages. [Source: Library]

Bulldozer Helps Out. Candace Fleming. Illustrated by Eric Rohmann. 2017. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

Trains Don't Sleep. Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum. Illustrated by Deidre Gill. 2017. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

A Good Day for A Hat. T. Nat Fuller. Illustrated by Rob Hodgson. 2017. Abrams. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Noisy Night. Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Brian Biggs. 2017. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

That's Me Loving You. Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Teagan White. 2016. [December] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

Lucky Lazlo. Steve Light. 2016. Candlewick. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

If You Give A Mouse A Brownie. Laura Joffe Numeroff. Illustrated by Felicia Bond. 2016. HarperCollins. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

Here's the link to the Cybils nomination post.  Be sure to read what's already been nominated so there are no duplicates. 

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

This & That

This & That. Mem Fox. Illustrated by Judy Horacek. 2017. Scholastic. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I'll tell you a story of this, and I'll tell you a story of that. I'll tell you a story of cavernous caves and a chimp with a magic hat. And then...

Premise/plot: This & That is a book celebrating storytelling and togetherness. It stars two mice: a parent and a child.

My thoughts: It was okay. It does celebrate storytelling, but it does not necessarily celebrate stories themselves. In other words, it's ALL tell, no show. We get hints of five to six stories. But no actual stories. Unless you think one-sentence stories are the most wonderful kinds of stories. Rhymes are emphasized more than stories. 90% of the time the goal is to end up with a rhyme for that. Hat. Cat. Chat. Mat. Fat. The end does switch it up a bit, reverses the order, and we end up looking for a rhyme with this. As an adult, well, I was less than thrilled.

Perhaps as equally entertaining as the text, readers can search the illustrations to find the two mice. I believe they are in every spread. One of the spreads it took me a while to spot them (they're in the queen's crown). They are there "in" the stories. I'm guessing this is all in celebration of imagination and the idea that stories take you places.

Text: 2 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Adopt a Board Book to Nominate for Cybils

Buildablock. Christopher Franceschelli. Illustrated by Peskimo. 2017. Harry N. Abrams. 90 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Changing Faces: Meet Happy Bear. Nathan Thoms. Illustrated by Carles Ballesteros. 2017. Harry N. Abrams. 18 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Nighty-Night. Leslie Patricelli. 2017. Candlewick. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy; board book]

Hair. Leslie Patricelli. 2017. Candlewick. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy; board book]

Tinyville Town: I'm A Librarian. Brian Biggs. 2017. Abrams. 22 pages. [Source: Review copy]

I'm silly. Jennifer L. Holm. Illustrated by Matthew Holm. 2017. Random House. 22 pages. [Source: Library]

I'm Scared (My First Comics #4) Jennifer L. Holm. Illustrated by Matthew Holm. 2017. Random House. 18 pages. [Source: Review copy]

All Aboard!: Let's Ride a Train. 2017. Harry N. Abrams. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Where's the Owl? Nosy Crow. Ingela P Arrhenius. 2017. Candlewick. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Where's the Hen? Nosy Crow. Illustrated by Ingela P. Arrhenius. 2017. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Better Together: A Book of Family. Barbara Joose and Anneke Lisberg. Illustrated by Jared Schorr. 2017. Harry N. Abrams. 22 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Charlie Builds. Bob Bianchini. 2017. Harry N. Abrams. 20 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

Where's the Ladybug? Ingela P. Arrhenius. 2017. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

 Where's The Giraffe. Ingela P. Arrhenius. 2017. Candlewick. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Good Night, Sweetie. Joyce Wan. 2017. Scholastic. 14 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Making Faces: A First Book of Emotions. 2017. Abrams. 14 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Charlie Rides. Bob Bianchini. 2017. Abrams. 20 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Here's the link to the Cybils nomination post.  Be sure to read what's already been nominated so there are no duplicates.

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers