161. Outside, Inside

Outside, Inside. LeUyen Pham. 2021. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Something strange happened on an unremarkable day just before the season changed. Everybody who was outside...went inside. 

Premise/plot: LeUyen Pham's newest picture book tells the story--in a child appropriate manner--of the COVID-19 pandemic, well, the early days of the pandemic. The book was published in January of 2021; and probably written and edited several months prior. Still, even though it was in the "midst" of the pandemic, it ends with hope and promise of better days.

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, LOVE LeUyan Pham. I do. She's one of my favorite illustrators of all time. She's illustrated so many picture books, early readers, and chapter books that I have just loved, loved, loved. Occasionally, she writes and illustrates a book. Such is the case with her newest. It is a gentle story. It is beautifully written.

Quotes:
“Everyone. Everywhere. All over the world.
Everyone just went inside, shut their doors, and waited.
Well, almost everyone.
Some people needed to be…
...where they needed to be
Outside, the sky was quiet,
but the wind still blew
and the birds kept singing.”

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

160. A House

A House. Kevin Henkes. 2021. [September] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: A house. Where is the door? What color is it?

Premise/plot: Kevin Henkes' newest book is A House. What you see is what you get--a simple drawing of a house, simple questions, very little--if any--plot. And yet despite its simplicity and repetitive nature it manages to ask and answer the question, "When does a house become a home?" It's an indirect question, to be sure.

My thoughts: Critics seem to love, love, love this one. It's received multiple starred reviews, and has even been called brilliant.

It is simple. It starts out asking extremely basic questions about the concepts of colors and shapes. It moves beyond those concepts to others--night and day, different types of weather, etc. But it isn't until towards the end where those questions become a bit more abstract. The people are drawn or rendered more like toys--think Fisher-Price Little People, old school--than actual people. I haven't decided if that is charming or weird. On the one hand, perhaps the house is a toy house??? On the other hand??? I don't have one. If it's not a toy house in a child's room and the author is playing around with us--the readers--then it's just strange.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

159. Otter: Best Cake Ever

Otter: Best Cake Ever. Sam Garton. 2021. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Today is Teddy's birthday. We are baking a cake. Shh! Don't tell Teddy. What kind of cake would Teddy like?

Premise/plot: Otter wants to celebrate--really CELEBRATE--Teddy's birthday right. And that, of course, means CAKE. Can Otter (and friends) make Teddy a cake??? Will their party be a success???

My thoughts: I don't remember reading other Otter books in the past. But if this book is any indication, I've been missing out. The book is super playful and a bit ambiguous. There's Otter and Otter Keeper, but then there's Otter's friends too....they appear to be toys....just toys, only toys. But not to Otter. To Otter his friends are just as involved in making and baking (and eating) the cake as he is. It's a fun, playful, imaginative book. I liked it.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

158. Apple of My Pie

Apple of My Pie (Norma and Belly #2) Mika Song. 2021 [June] 128 page. [Source: Library]

First sentence: ...And the animals waited for morning.

Premise/plot: This second book in the series begins with Pops reading a story to Little Bee. Soon these two are off on an adventure...or misadventure as the case may be. Their desire for apples...well...it leads Pops into danger. It may be up to Little Bee (and Norma and Belly) to FIND and SAVE Pops before it's too late.

This adventure leads them on a field trip of sorts...to see how apples go from ORCHARDS to pies.

My thoughts: I didn't like this one as much as the first book. I still liked it. I think my favorite part was paying careful attention to the pie...

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

157. Donut Feed the Squirrels

Donut Feed the Squirrels (Norma and Belly #1) Mika Song. 2020. 112 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Belly! Wake up, I'm making pancakes!

Premise/plot: Donut Feed the Squirrel is the first in a new graphic novel series for young readers. It stars squirrels. Norma and Belly are introduced in this one! Good news: Norma is making pancakes!!! Bad news: Norma BURNS the pancakes. Good news: the squirrels SMELL something delicious--donuts! Bad news: It may be difficult for the squirrels to GET the donuts. In fact, it may take a genius plan....can Norma and Belly (with a little help) get their paws on donuts???

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It was fun. It was funny. I loved seeing the plan in motion. The bit with the ROLLER SKATES was just great fun. I think it's a promising start to a new series.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

156. Dear Beast: The Pet Parade

Dear Beast Pet Parade. (Dear Beast #2) Dori Hillestad Butler. Illustrated by Kevan Atteberry. 2021. 80 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Dear Baxter, It has come to my attention that the city pet parade is coming up. I have marched in many parades with Andy. This year, as a sign of our friendship, I would like to invite you to march in my place. What do you say? Sincerely, Simon

Premise/plot: Simon (the black cat) continues his correspondence with 'the Beast' (aka Baxter the dog) in the second book in the series. In this one, there is a pet parade. Owners and pets dress up in costume and have a parade. Simon would LOVE to have Baxter take his place in the parade. (I get a feeling Simon really doesn't like wearing costumes!) But Simon is also a curious cat, and as the plans for the parade are kept very hush, hush...Simon gets frustrated and upset. Maybe HE should be in the parade after all????

My thoughts: I liked this one. I liked all three books. I love the personalities of the characters. Simon and Baxter are cute and charming. Though Simon would hate to be called CUTE or CHARMING. The two definitely have distinct personalities which is essential, in my opinion.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

155. Misty the Cloud A Very Stormy Day

Misty the Cloud: A Very Stormy Day. Dylan Dreyer and Alan Katz. Illustrated by Rosie Butcher. 2021. [September] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Clare stepped into the batter's box. She looked up and smiled. "Perfect weather for our game! Not a single cloud in the sky." But there was a cloud in the sky...far beyond where Clare could see.

Premise/plot: Misty the Cloud and Clare (the girl) are having rumble-grumble days. Both are in bad moods. Misty (the cloud) is upset that her friends can't play with her. Clare (the girl) is upset that the ball game is canceled and she has to play indoors. There's a lot of fit throwing. Which for Misty (the cloud) leads to thunder storms...and for Clare (the girl) it leads to some moralizing. The more you grumble, the more you'll rumble.

My thoughts: Emotions can be BIG and make you feel out of control. That's the moral of the story. It was okay. The weather facts are tacked on in the very last pages and really have little to do with the story overall. The book itself is all about emotions and feelings and how to cope with disappointment and frustration. Half the characters just happen to be clouds.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

154. Scary Stories for Young Foxes

Scary Stories for Young Foxes. Christian McKay Heidicker. Illustrated by Junyi Wu. 2019. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [Newbery Honor; J Fantasy; MG Fantasy; J Fiction; J Fantasy; Animal Fantasy]

First sentence: The haunted season had arrived in the Antler Wood.

Premise/plot: Seven kits sneak off for story time in Heidicker’s new animal fantasy. The stories aren’t for the timid, these are SCARY stories (for foxes). The storyteller, an old fox, tells a series of stories—seven or eight. The stories star other fox kits...and as the book progresses, readers realize the stories are related to each other and tell one big story.

Mia and Uly are the two stars of the stories...

My thoughts: Scary Stories for Young Foxes was named a Newbery Honor book in 2020. It is definitely an action-packed, character-driven fantasy novel that is intense. I loved the perspective; for whatever reason I had never seen Beatrix Potter as a super scary villain. This is just one example.

Overall it was a satisfying read. That being said it is as grim and gruesome as watching a nature special. If the thought of some kits (and some foxes and vixens) not making it disturbs you, this might not be the best choice for you.

I originally read this one in February 2020. I reread it in October 2021. It was just as delightful the second time around.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

153. Dear Beast

Dear Beast. Dori Hillestad Butler. Illustrated by Kevan Atteberry. 2020. 80 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: They wouldn't have.... Guess what, Mom! We got a dog at Dad's house!

Premise/plot: Simon and Baxter star in Dori Hillestad Butler's Dear Beast. Simon, the cat, is VERY opinionated. He knows that the dog, the beast, (aka BAXTER) is NOT needed. Andy does not need a DOG. He has a cat...and a fish. Simon is Andy's pet at his mom's house. Baxter is Andy's pet at his dad's house. These two exchange letters with each other... can these two learn to get along and do what is best for Andy?

My thoughts: This is the first in the series. I read the third book first. I did like going back to pick up this one. It helped clarified things a bit! The book is cute and fun. The personalities of both pets are clear. And those personalities are expressed well in the illustrations.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers