Fiona's Little Accident

Fiona's Little Accident. Rosemary Wells. 2018. Candlewick Press. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Fiona and her best friend, Felix, had built a volcano. It was going to erupt big-time at show-and-tell. At bedtime Fiona laid out her aloha dress, her sunshine undies, and her new red shoes.

Premise/plot: Fiona finds herself way too busy to go to the bathroom. The consequences of her putting it off again and again and again is an accident in front of everyone during the show-and-tell presentation. Will Fiona EVER be able to live this down?

My thoughts: The answer is YES. I haven't decided if that's because it's actually true OR if it's because Felix and Fiona live in a happily-ever-after kind of world where problems--big and small--are resolved neatly and wonderfully within thirty-two pages.

Felix is a good friend. There's no doubt about that. He's a keeper. Another hero is Victor. If Victor's show and tell had not gone so above and beyond Fiona's "little" accident and wowed the class, I'm not sure Fiona's accident would have been forgotten in less than a minute.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Peppa Pig and the Backyard Circus

Peppa Pig and the Backyard Circus. Candlewick Press. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: It's a sunny day, and Peppa and her friends are visiting Grandpa and Granny Pig. Grandpa Pig is using his hammer. "It's a circus tent!" says Peppa. "Hooray!" everyone shouts.

Premise/plot: Grandpa Pig has set up a tent in his backyard for Granny Pig's garden party. Peppa and her friends think it should be a circus tent. They want to put on a show. Everyone has something to do at the circus. What will Peppa do?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It was silly. But then again it is Peppa Pig. Expecting Peppa not to be silly is like expecting water not to be wet. In other words, it's great fun if you love Peppa Pig and all of her friends. If the point of a circus is to have fun, it's a great success.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Barnyard Boogie

Barnyard Boogie! Tim McCanna. Illustrated by Allison Black. 2017. Harry N. Abrams. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

 First sentence: The Barnyard Band is performing today. All the musicians are ready to play! Horse brings the tuba. Oompa Doompa Doo! Goat swings the sax. Honka wonka woo! But what can Cow do? Moo?

Premise/plot: Little ones meet the Barnyard Band in Tim McCanna's bright and bouncy picture book. The animals on the farm all have something to do in the band. But what will Cow do? How does he fit in the act?

My thoughts: I liked it. As long as there are picture books being published, there will be a new crop of farm books each year. There have been other animals-form-a-band books before, this one will fit right in.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Whose Boat?

Whose Boat? Toni Buzzeo. Illustrated by Tom Froese. 2018. Abrams. 16 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: On rivers, lakes, and ocean bays boat commanders spend their days. Harbor traffic comes and goes. Whose boat is that? Do you know?

Premise/plot: Each spread asks a question: Whose boat is this? The answer lies behind the flap.

People on top, and cars below. Whose boat is that? Do you know?

The car ferry captain's!
I move cars and drivers from shore to shore.

This is a nonfiction board book for little ones to grow with. I wasn't expecting this amount of detail in a board book; each boat is labeled. For the ferry boat: hydraulic ramp, bridge, passenger seats, observation deck, vehicle deck, hull.

My thoughts: It's never too early to introduce nonfiction to little ones. This one is boat-themed--all the way. In all honesty, it gets a bit awkward at times. I wish the question was What Boat? instead of Whose Boat?

In lobster traps
today's catch grows.
Whose boat is that?
Do you know?
The lobsterperson's!
I ride the
waves and haul
the traps.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

When I Grow UP

When I Grow Up. Story Adapted by Marilyn Easton. 2018. [July] Scholastic. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Today in school, Madame Gazelle asks the children what they would like to be when they grow up. She has a basket full of fun hats for them to choose from. The children are so excited to dress up! They run to the basket and each grap their items.

Premise/plot: Madame Gazelle is asking her students what they want to be when they grow up. Each student uses props--costumes--to answer the question. They also give their reasons WHY they want to be whatever it is. Madame Gazelle is surprised by one common thread their answers share.

My thoughts: I like this one. I don't remember seeing an episode like it. Is it possible I haven't seen every episode of Peppa Pig?! Or is it possible Scholastic is publishing an original story starring Peppa Pig?!

Peppa Pig unlike her classmates does NOT know what she wants to be when she grows up. She does NOT find the answer in a costume trunk. She does spend time thinking about it and not just going with what first pops into her mind.

George has an answer--impractical though it may be--a dinosaur, of course. 

I like that every character's impression is that all grown-ups get to tell people what to do. That is what being grown-up is all about.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Priscilla Gorilla

Priscilla Gorilla. Barbara Bottner. Illustrated by Michael Emberley. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:  When Priscilla turned six, her dad gave her a book called ALL ABOUT GORILLAS. They read it a million skillion times!

Premise/plot: Priscilla spends a LOT of time in her classroom's thinking corner. It could be because she's a HUGE distraction to the rest of her class. Priscilla is so completely-absolutely obsessed with gorillas that she does not want to learn, at least in a traditional sense of the word.

My thoughts: To teachers everywhere looking for a book besides Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes to read aloud at the start of the year, I give you Priscilla Gorilla.

I liked it. I'm not sure I loved, loved, loved it. Priscilla is an over-the-top character. It's just as easy to forgive her as to get mad at her in the first place. The book is cute.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Whose Moon Is That?

Whose Moon Is That? Kim Krans. 2017. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: "Whose moon is that?" asked the curious cat.

Premise/plot: A curious cat starts an argument when he asks 'Whose moon is that?' EVERYONE has an opinion--the tree, the mountain, a bird, a bear, an ocean.What will stop the argument? Is it the moon's answer or the rising sun?

My thoughts: It was okay for me. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. I am not the ideal audience for books where oceans and trees speak...and speak in rhyme. Animal fantasy is one thing but I have limits to how far I can suspend my disbelief.

I personally wish the question had been Who Made the Moon?

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


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Book of Gold

The Book of Gold. Bob Staake. 2017. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Isaac Gutenberg wasn't interested in much. Not in toys, not in the funny papers, not even in his pet goldfish. His parents tried to tempt him with books.

Premise/plot: Isaac's parents LOVE to read; their son doesn't. They try taking him to the New York Public Library, but that field trip doesn't quite go as planned. He's just as bored by books there as he is at home. But...on that same trip they go to a shop. His parents are looking for a gift. A shopkeeper approaches Isaac and his life will never be the same...

"Tell me, child," she whispered. "Have you heard about The Book of Gold?" Isaac shook his head. "There is a legend," she explained, "that somewhere in the world there is one very special book that's just waiting to be discovered. It will look like any other book, but it holds all the answers to every question ever asked, and when it is opened, it turns to solid gold."

Seeing that he's become curious, she wishes him good luck. "You'll need patience and fortitude to find the Book of Gold!"

Isaac spends his life opening books. Soon it's just not opening books...but DEVOURING books as he reads them one after another. His curiosity grows and grows with each passing year. Will he ever discover The Book of Gold?

My thoughts: I liked this one. It is a bit text-heavy so perhaps it's best for older readers who still enjoy picture books. (In my opinion, one never ever ever outgrows picture books. There's a picture book perfect for each and every age.) The theme is timeless--books are magical--but the story is set in a specific time and place. Isaac, when we first meet him, is a child in 1935 in New York.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Farm Babies

Farm Babies. H.A. Rey. 2017. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:
Cluck, cluck, cluck!
Calls Mother Hen.
Help count her chicks
From one to ten.

Premise/plot: Farm Babies is a lift-the-flap book. It is neither a board book or a picture book--not properly. (The pages are thick but not board-book thick.) It is adapted from H.A. Rey's Where's My Baby?

Each spread shows a family. The rhyme tells a tiny bit about the family. Many are animal families, but not all.

Many piglets
Has Mother Pig.
Now they are little.
Soon they'll be big.

My thoughts: I liked this one!  I admit I am a bit partial to farm books for little ones!

Reading is a shared experience, especially with books like this one. Parents should treasure each and every moment of it. Lift-the-flap books are a great way for parents and little ones to interact with each other and with the book in hand.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Whose House?

Whose House? H.A. Rey. 2017. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:

Here in this house
Lives something you know
That likes to go
And go and go!

Premise/plot: Whose House? is a lift-the-flap book. It isn't a proper board book or a proper picture book. It's an in-between book for parents to share with their curious little ones. (It is adapted from H.A. Rey's Anybody at Home?)

Each spread reveals another type of home. There is a rhyme asking little ones to guess whose home it is. The flap reveals the answer, of course. The clues are not to be found in the text--for the most part--but in the illustrations. (There are definite exceptions!)

My thoughts: Reading is a shared experience, especially with books like this one. Parents should treasure each and every moment of it. Lift-the-flap books are a great way for parents and little ones to interact with each other and with the book in hand.

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


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Monkey Not Ready For Bedtime

Monkey: Not Ready for Bedtime. Marc Brown. 2017. Random House. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: "It's time for bed, Monkey! Do you have your pj's on?" "Yes." "Did you brush your teeth?" "Yes." "Where is Mr. Fuzzy?" "Mr. Fuzzy is on be bed." But Monkey couldn't fall asleep.

Premise/plot: Night after night Monkey has trouble falling asleep. Can Monkey's big brother help his little brother out?

My thoughts: Monkey is the star of Marc Brown's new series. I believe this is the third book in the series. Other books include Monkey Not Ready for Baby and Monkey Not Ready for Kindergarten.

It was an okay book for me. I don't actively dislike Monkey and his family. It's more of a lack of feeling. Perhaps a lack of feeling might be called boredom. But I don't know that I care even enough to be bored by Monkey.

Since he's the star of a series, it would be nice if I could feel something toward him.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Antlered Ship

The Antlered Ship. Dashka Slater. Illustrated by Eric and Terry Fan. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The day the antlered ship arrived, Marco wondered about the wide world. He had so many questions. Why do some songs make you happy and others make you sad? Why don't trees ever talk? How deep does the sun go when it sinks into the sea?

Premise/plot: Marco is the fox-hero of The Antlered Ship. The book celebrates marveling or curiosity. Marco sets out with other animals on a quest for answers to his questions. All have their own individual reason for setting sail and heading off into the unknown. Marco hopes to find other foxes like him--philosophically inclined foxes that contemplate the meaning of the universe. The adventure has ups and downs--moments when Marco--and the others--question why they set sail in the first place. But Marco finds he LOVES the journey.

My thoughts: I like this one. I do like Marco. I appreciate his curiosity and his longing to find kindred spirits. I have never been inclined to go adventure-seeking myself. Curiosity is worth celebrating, it can lead you places for sure. While Marco was drawn to the sea, I'm drawn to libraries.

If you enjoy animal fantasy consider picking this one up!

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Ocean Meets Sky

Ocean Meets Sky. Terry and Eric Fan. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Finn lived by the sea, and the sea lived by him. "It's a good day for sailing," his grandfather would have said.

Premise/plot: On what would have been his grandfather's ninetieth birthday, a young boy dreams whimsically about the ocean meeting the sky. His grandfather was always telling stories about a magical place where the ocean met the sky.

My thoughts: If you love, love, love whimsical, fantastical books then Ocean Meets Sky might be a great fit for you and your little ones. If you prefer less whimsy and more reality, then maybe not so much. Most of this one is a boy's dream-journey to the place where the ocean meets the sky. If you're willing to dream with Finn, then you might enjoy the journey and be mesmerized by the detailed illustrations.

Ocean Meets Sky is not my kind of book, but it may be your kind of book. I wouldn't be surprised if it got some award love at some point for its illustrations.

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


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Cat Wishes

Cat Wishes. Calista Brill. Illustrated by Kenard Pak. 2018. [July] HMH. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Once in the windy wood, there was a hungry Cat.

Premise/plot: Cat Wishes reads like a fairy tale. A cat shows mercy to an animal--a snake of all things!--and receives three wishes in return. What will she wish for...and will her wishes come true?!

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one! It was a lovely, sweet story. Cat may be skeptical that wishes are real, but readers probably won't be.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: I'm a Mail Carrier

Tinyville Town: I'm A Mail Carrier. Brian Biggs. 2018. Abrams. 22 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Whatever the weather, I have a job to do. I get things where they're supposed to go.

Premise/plot: I'm a Mail Carrier is one of the books in Brian Biggs'  Tinyville Town series. The series includes picture and board books. Other books in the series include Tinyville Town: Gets To Work!, Tinyville Town: I'm a Librarian, Tinyville Town: I'm a Firefighter, Tinyville Town: I'm a Veterinarian, Tinyville Town: I'm a Police Officer, Tinyville Town: Time for School.

This one is a board book. It introduces little ones to the job of mail carrier, obviously. She is a hard worker! Perhaps because she lives in Tinyville Town, she does everything herself.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I did. My absolute favorite in the series is I'm a Librarian. But this one finds a way to work books into it as well! The Mail Carrier carries packages, and one of those packages is a book.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Just a Secret

Just A Secret. Gina and Mercer Mayer. 2001. 24 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: I asked Dad to help me make something. It was special. It was a secret.

Premise/plot: Little Critter has a secret to keep--an actual secret to hide. Can he keep it secret? Can he keep it hidden? Or will he hide it a little too well?

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. It was sweet; it was sweeter than I was expecting from Little Critter. Little Critter often makes me laugh.. 

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Just A Mess

Just A Mess. Mercer Mayer. 1987. 24 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: Today I couldn't find my baseball mitt. I looked in my tree house. I looked under the back steps. I asked Mom if she had seen it. She said I should try my room. I never thought to look there. What a mess!

Premise/plot: Little Critter has a messy room. (Anyone caught by surprise there?!) Since he can't get anyone to help him clean his room, he decides to do it for himself...in a way that only Little Critter can. (Well, I take that back. Little Critter's technique isn't all that original.) Will he find his baseball mitt?

My thoughts: Perhaps with the exception of Ramona Quimby (did she have a messy room too?) the character I most identified with as a child was LITTLE CRITTER. I love, love, love, love, crazy love Mercer Mayer's Little Critter.

The rest of the mess could fit under my bed. So I put it there. Then I made the bed. Won't Mom be pleased. 

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Me Too!

Me Too! Mercer Mayer. 1983. 23 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: When my little sister saw me riding my skateboard, she said...Me Too! Then I had to help her ride. I had a paper airplane that I made myself. But my little sister saw it and said...Me Too! Then she threw it in a tree.

Premise/plot: Little Critter HATES to hear his little sister say "Me Too!" Will I have to SHARE everything? Can he never have a moments peace?

My thoughts: I like this one. I don't know that it's my absolute all-time favorite in the Little Critter series. (Do most people have an ongoing ranked list of Little Critter books in mind?) But I really enjoy it. I love Little Critter. And I think he is a good big brother. And as the end of the book shows, she is a good little sister too.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Just Go To Bed

Just Go To Bed. Mercer Mayer. 1983. 24 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: I'm a cowboy and I round up cows. I can lasso anything. Dad says..."It's time for the cowboy to come inside and get ready for bed."

Premise/plot: Will Little Critter go to bed willingly?! Or will his dad have to get super-creative and match the wits of his son?!

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, SUPER love Little Critter. I grew up on Little Critter books. I'm not sure if I love Little Critter because I grew up with him, or if regardless of when I met him I would see myself. 

Quotes:

I'm a space cadet and I zoom to the moon. I capture a robot with my ray gun. Dad says..."This giant robot has captured the space cadet and is going to put him in the bathtub right now."
I'm a sea monster attacking a ship. Dad says, "It's time for the sea monster to have a snack."
I'm a zookeeper feeding my hungry animals. Dad says..."Feeding time is over. Here are the zookeeper's pajamas." 

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Who?

Who? A Celebration of Babies. Robie Harris. Illustrated by Natascha Rosenberg. 2018. Abrams. 20 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Who's that? A baby! Sweet baby! Nice baby! That's who! Who? Who's that? Dada! That's who! Who's that? Baby and Dada! That's who!

Premise/plot: This one is subtitled a CELEBRATION of babies. The book opens with A BABY and closes with BABIES. Whether singular or plural babies are SWEET and NICE. There is a LOT of repetition in this one. (I'm not just talking about the excessive amounts of exclamation points.) This one is all about answering the question WHO? It covers the many WHOs in a baby's life: Mama, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, Kitty, Doggie, etc.

My thoughts: I liked it. It isn't the story of one baby in one family. It is the story of babies and families everywhere. A nice diverse offering for all little ones to enjoy.

I definitely liked it. 

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers