Thursday, December 26, 2019

Serious Goose

Serious Goose. Jimmy Kimmel. 2019. [December] 40 pages. [source: Library]

First sentence: This is a serious goose.

Premise/plot: Jimmy Kimmel introduces readers to a very serious not at all silly goose in his picture book for young readers. He wrote and illustrated the book—this shows because they go together splendidly. I couldn’t imagine one without the other. So the plot is simple, can anybody or anything turn this serious goose into a silly one?! What will it take to make this goose giggle or smile?!

My thoughts: I was always terrible at “Poor, Poor Kitty.” Perhaps even the world’s worst Poor, Poor Kitty player. Probably because I am totally a silly goose. This one is good for a couple of laughs. I definitely enjoyed reading it. I think it would be a good choice for parents to read aloud. I think the page with the mirror is great fun for the intended age group.

Text: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Total: 10/10


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Vegetables in Holiday Underwear

Vegetables in Holiday Underwear. Jared Chapman. 2019. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I’ve been waiting all year long...for holiday underwear season!

Premise/plot: The vegetables are back and starring in a new picture book by Jared Chapman. Their first appearance was in his Vegetables in Underwear. It was a gimmicky book designed especially for a certain audience that finds illustrated underwear hilarious. This book obviously is hoping that if regular underwear is hilarious, holiday underwear is more so. But is it?!

My thoughts: Is this book necessary? A thousand times no. But is it fun? I can’t really answer that question objectively. I am not in the target audience, and underwear doesn’t make me laugh. The best scene in this one comes when three baby vegetables stacked together pose as Santa. It turns out baby corn, baby carrot, and baby beet aren’t allowed to join in the holiday fun since they are diapered. But even at the best moments of this one there’s a feeling of so what?!?!

Text:2/5
Illustrations:3/5
Total: 5/10
 


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Santa and the Goodnight Train

Santa and the Goodnight Train. June Sobel. Illustrated by Laura Hiliska-Beith. 2019. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Santa’s coming! Ho! Ho! Ho! The Goodnight Train is all aglow!

Premise/plot: I believe this is the third book starring the Goodnight Train and its crew. Earlier books in the series include The Goodnight Train and the Goodnight Train Rolls On. In each book, characters travel to Dreamland. This one is set on Christmas Eve.

My thoughts: For little ones that love, love, love the previous books in the series, this one might prove quite the treat. I know that trains can be fascinating for young ones and that some never really outgrow their love of trains. (Others do.) This one is written in rhyme. The illustrations are very Christmasy. Santa does make an appearance.

I can at times overthink picture books, can expect sense when it is clearly nonsense being served. I don’t know why I am having trouble with the nonsense of this fantasy when I have welcomed wholeheartedly the nonsense of In The Night Garden. But my hesitation should not stop enthusiasts from picking this one up to share with their families.

Text: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Total: 6/10


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Monday, December 23, 2019

Dasher

Dasher: How A Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever. Matt Tavares. 2019. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Life was not easy for the reindeer family of J.P. Finnegan’s Traveling Circus and Menagerie.

Premise/plot: This is the ‘real’ story of Dasher (the doe) and how Santa’s sleigh came to be pulled by reindeer instead of a horse. It seems only fair that she gets an origin story. Why should Rudolph remain the most famous reindeer of all?!?!

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one! It is a bit text heavy. So perhaps this one is best suited to a slightly older young reader. Children who have grown past chewing books and are ready to settle into a story. It is an entertaining story, beautifully written and illustrated. I thought the artwork was gorgeous.

If this were adapted into a special, I would definitely watch it every holiday season.

Text:4/5
Illustrations:5/5
Total:9/10


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Mustache Baby Christmas

The Mustache Baby Christmas. Bridget Heos. Illustrated by Joy Ang. 2019. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: You know that Baby Billy was born with a mustache. And that Baby Javier was born with a beard. But did you know that on Christmas Eve, Javier’s beard...that made him Santa’s #1 helper, Santa Baby!

Premise/plot: Mustache Baby (Baby Billy) is Back and starring in his fourth picture book. In this holiday adventure, these two friends become Santa’s helpers. Javier becomes Santa Baby and Baby Billy becomes an elf. A toy-making elf. But toys are made to be given away, right?!?! Will Billy want to give away the toys that he has made?! Or will he want to keep them ALL?! Will he be on Santa’s naughty or nice list?!

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one! It’s a cute and clever holiday read aloud just about perfect for families. It is definitely full of puns. These puns may get old after the fiftieth time or so, but I definitely think it’s an again again read aloud to bring out season after season.

Text: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Total: 10/10


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

All You Need For A Snowman

All You Need for a Snowman. Alice Schertle. Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee. 2002/2019. 28 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: One small snowflake fluttering down—that’s all you need for a snowman. EXCEPT two more snowflakes...three flakes...four...five...six...seven thousand...eight million more...Billions of snowflakes piled in a mound, pat them and pack them and roll them around into one big ball.

Premise/plot: Do you know what it takes to build a snowman?!?! In this rhythmic poem, little ones learn exactly what is involved in the building of a snowman. At least according to the author Alice Schertle. In truth snowmen like snowflakes can be very unique.

My thoughts: I definitely liked this one. It is a cute wintry read aloud to share with little ones. It was originally published as a picture book in 2002. It is newly published as a board book.

Text: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Total: 7/10


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Monday, December 16, 2019

Santa's Cookie Is Missing

Santa's Cookie Is Missing. Illustrated by Anne Passchier. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2019. 16 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: We always share cookies on Christmas Eve and save one for Santa with a tall glass of milk.

Premise/plot: This is a novelty board book. It features die-cut pages—circle-shaped, of course. Sant’s cookie goes missing!!! Can young ones solve the mystery and discover what happened to his cookie?

My thoughts: I liked this one. I didn’t love, love, love it. It is a novelty treat and not great literature. It is a book probably worth sharing with little ones during the holidays. But probably not destined to become a classic.

The illustrations are the best part, in my opinion.
 


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

2020 Picture Book Reading Challenge

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: January 2020 - December 2020
Goal: To have adults read more picture books. To celebrate the fact that picture books are for everyone! Families are, of course, welcome to join in!
# of books: minimum of 12 (or 24)
 January

1. Two for Me, One For You. Jorg Muhle. 2019. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture Book]
2. The Favorite Book. Bethanie Deeney Murguia. 2019. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]
3. Sisters First. Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush. Illustrated by Ramona Kaultizki. 2019. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]
4. This is Baby. Jimmy Fallon. Illustrated by Miguel Ordonez. 2019. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]
5. Mary Blair's Unique Flair: The Girl Who Became One of the Disney Legends. Amy Novesky. Illustrated by Brittney Lee. 2019. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture Book Biography; Biography]
6. Miep and the Most Famous Diary: The Woman Who Rescued Anne Frank's Diary. Meeg PIncus. Illustrated by Jordi Solano. 2019. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book biography; biography]
7. The Return of Thelma the Unicorn. Aaron Blabey. 2019. [December] 36 pages. [Source: Review copy] [Picture book; animal fantasy]
8. Pig the Tourist. (Pig the Pug #7) Aaron Blabey. 2020. [February] 32 pages. [Source: Review copy] [Animal fantasy; picture book]
9. The Crayons' Christmas. Drew Daywalt. Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. 2019. 52 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book; Christmas; Novelty]
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© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Ye Olde Cat Memes

Ye Olde Cat Memes. Eulalie Osgood Grover. 1911/2019. 96 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: I am the Queen of all the Kittens.

Premise/plot: Love kittens? Love cats? Enjoy vintage books? This one was originally published in 1911 as Kittens and Cats: a First Reader. It is a themed collection of poetry. Each poem is presented alongside a black and white photograph of, you guessed it, a cat or kitten dressed up and posed. The overall story is that the Queen is having a great party and all the cats and kittens are invited. Half the book is focused on getting there, the other half on the night’s entertainment. The Queen must be amused after all.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one.

A Stranger
I’ve met the cat that lives behind
The looking glass, you see.
He’s very handsome, and he looks
For all the world like me. (53)


I liked the poems. Some were great fun, others not quite so much. But all the photographs were marvelous. I don’t know how they got the cats to pose. It’s a quirky book. 


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Monday, December 9, 2019

Max & Ruby and Twin Trouble

Max & Ruby and Twin Trouble. Rosemary Wells. 2019. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Max’s sister, Ruby, knew all about new babies. Mama and Papa were going to have one. “You can see for yourself, Max,” said Ruby. “There’s a new baby in there!” But Max knew Mama had eaten too many cookies. He showed Ruby the cookie jar. It was empty. “See!” Max said to Ruby.

Premise/plot: Max and Ruby are going to have a new brother or sister. Max knows little if anything about babies. Ruby, of course, claims to know everything. She remembers Max’s baby days. Plus she has a Hannah the Howler doll. But is this family ready to welcome twins?!?!

My thoughts: I love Max and Ruby though I am still adjusting to a Max that talks. But even though some things have changed through the years, this brother sister pair still have charm and humor.

Text: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5/
Total: 10/10
 


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Everybody's Favorite Book

Everybody's Favorite Book. Mike Allegra. Illustrated by Claire Almon. 2018. 40 pages.  [Source: Library]

First sentence: You are very lucky. You are reading Everybody’s Favorite Book. There is not one person anywhere who has a different favorite book.

Premise/plot: Can ONE book really please or satisfy everyone and actually be everyone’s favorite?!?! The author offers such a book (I hope with a great deal of sarcasm) to young readers.

My thoughts: So why one star? Allegra tries a little too hard to be clever and funny. I was leaning more towards a “Bless his heart” but mom was more “what a waste of paper?!” Things to keep in mind...neither of us is the target audience. A young reader might find it amusing, perhaps even worthy of a laugh, and not just stupid. There is one whole page dedicated to poop jokes.

I started out thinking it might have potential. I did. But it was just way too scattered and pointless.

This is as good a time as any to share my philosophy on picture books. I do believe they are the most subjective kind of book there is. Every single book has the potential to be someone’s favorite and best book. It doesn’t matter what any adult may think, to that one reader it may be the one. It will be—to that reader—a magical book worth reading again and again and again until it’s memorized by everyone in the family. It will be loved and cherished forever. Parents can share books that they really love and enjoy and want to be ‘the one’ but it is the child who ultimately chooses. The world is a better place because each individual has his or her own favorite and best book.

Text: 1 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 4 out of 10


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

The First Christmas Jumper

The First Christmas Jumper and the Sheep Who Changed Everything. Ryan Trubidy. Illustrated by Chris Judge. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I’d like to tell you a curious story the likes of which you have never heard before. This tale begins with a sheep. Not a red-nosed one, just a regular, run-of-the-mill, everyday, nothing-to-see-here sheep.

Premise/plot: Hilary, the super-unique sheep, loves, loves, loves, loves, loves Christmas. One day the farm receives a very special visitor. Hilary's life may never be the same. This chapter book is a fun look at how the first Christmas jumper (aka sweater) came to be.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this humorous tale. Hilary and the other sheep live on an Irish farm. It was a cute-enough tale that little ones may love. It features some illustrations throughout.


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers