202. Waffles and Pancake: Flight or Fright

Waffles and Pancake #2: Flight or Fright. Drew Brockington. 2022. 64 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Waffles, you need to see this!

Premise/plot: Waffles and Pancake are going on an airplane for the very first time [accompanied by Mom-Cat]. They are going to be visiting Gramps and Grammers. They are super-excited about seeing them, but, flying on the plane is causing some anxiety. How does an airplane fly?

My thoughts: This graphic novel explores some of the mechanics of flight while continuing the story of Waffles and Pancake. This is the second book in this prequel series. I have not read the other series--where Waffles is a CAT (not a kitten).

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

201. If You Believe In Me

If You Believe In Me. Rosemary Wells. 2022. 28 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: I am just a little bear
Sitting in a great big tree,
Dreaming of Somehow-Someday Things
That might just happen to me.

Premise/plot: If You Believe In Me is a picture book written in verse. It is a life-affirming, "inspirational," picture book packed with a straight-forward message. Little Bear can do just about anything BECAUSE the parents believe.

My thoughts: I liked the illustrations. I'm not quite as sold on the syrup-y sweet text. Some lines--upon consideration--just don't make all that much sense. It is a sentimental text that may appeal to adults. Or some adults.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

200. Green is for Christmas

Green is for Christmas. Drew Daywalt. Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. 2022. [October 18] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Green is for Christmas. Actually, Red is for Christmas, but please tell me more. Green is for Christmas. Green is for holly. 

Premise/plot: The crayons are back for their billionth adventure. I am exaggerating. There haven't been [quite] that many books. The colors are all arguing which is the best [again]. Which crayon IS the color OF CHRISTMAS.

My thoughts: The premise is simple. I'm not sure we need thirty-two pages to get to the [predictable] resolution that all the colors are important to Christmas. But I think if you absolutely loved the original few stories in this series, then this one probably would be worth reading.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

199. Busy Betty

Busy Betty. Reese Witherspoon. Illustrated by Xindi Yan. 2022. [October 4] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Hi! Hello! Howdy! I'm Betty! I like doing things and making things and playing all day long! Sweet cinnamon biscuits, I love being busy!

Premise/plot: Betty, our super-cute-and-adorable heroine, is busy, busy, busy. She's always got a dozen things going at once. She isn't always the best at getting the job done, finishing what she starts, follow through, but she gives it her all. With a little help from friends and family, Betty generally gets back on track.

My thoughts: I thought the illustrations were super adorable. I absolutely loved how expressive and precious they were. True, not every reader wants precious, adorable, sweet. But I really enjoyed the illustrations. The story itself is funny [slightly predictable] and enjoyable.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

198. Loud Mouse

Loud Mouse: How A Little Mouse Found Her Big Voice. Cara Mentzel and Idina Menzel. Illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett. 2022. [September] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Dee loved to sing. 

Premise/plot: Dee (the cute, adorable mouse heroine) loves, loves, loves to sing. It makes her so incredibly happy. When she sings for show and tell at school, however, she learns a little life lesson. There's a slight hiccup [aka conflict] in the story, but it's not a huge problem to overcome. [It reminded me of how quickly conflict enters and exits in a sitcom like Full House].

My thoughts: I liked it well enough. I did. It was cute, sweet, adorable. It was a little text-heavy, perhaps. And it is slightly longer than the typical picture book. The message itself while not unique--be the best you, you can be--is not horrible. 

I liked the beginning. I liked the ending. The middle is confusing. Her physically changing sizes is slightly weird.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

197. The Wondrous Wonders

The Wondrous Wonders by Camille Jourdy. 2019/2022. 160 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Where'd that girl run off to? She just can't sit still.

Premise/plot: Newly translated into English from the French, The Wondrous Wonders is a MG graphic novel. Jo, the protagonist, is mad-sad (or sad-mad) about her parents divorce. (I believe her father is either marrying someone new, dating someone new, or already married someone new. There is going to be a stepmother in the picture and new step-siblings). In her anger-frustration, she storms away from the family gathering [a picnic???] into the woods. She is RUNNING AWAY and you better believe she is serious. The elves--whom she starts to follow--are fed up by Jo's incessant whining. This elf-couple even starts throwing around the word divorce. Soon, Jo isn't just "meeting" [aka forcing an acquaintance] elves but talking animals [like foxes and ponies] as well. She learns that there is an evil emperor tomcat who is imprisoning folks. Her new "friends" (magical folk she's literally just met) are planning to help those friends/family break out of the emperor's dungeon. But it won't be easy. Jo is part of the problem, though to be fair so is lack of [sophisticated] planning. Though the first attempt may not succeed, Jo's persistent and determined presence may just be enough motivation to keep going. [Jo seems to be annoying just about everyone she meets.] Jo keeps meeting new folks and these new folks keep throwing around the divorce word a lot. Almost like the author wants Jo to learn a little lesson in this fantastical world she's stumbled into. 

My thoughts: I personally felt a disconnect. I had a hard time connecting with the many characters in this fantastical world. When authors go for whimsical/absurd/odd/fantastical, it can be an absolute delight. Or it can just be a little off-putting. And whether you find it delightful or off-putting is completely subjective...with plenty of factors coming into play. For me, it may be the graphic novel format that is keeping me from engaging. [I'm not the biggest enthusiast for graphic novels]. Or it could be it loses a little something in translation. Or it could be just a tiny bit didactic for me.

I do think part of it, for me, is just personal. I have a hard time following stories told mainly through wordless panels. Some pages had text, no doubt. But some pages just had a series of panels. I am HORRIBLE at reading wordless pictures. Just horrible. My comprehension isn't the best of "reading" illustrations [alone] so I tend to skip these panels. Skipping pages isn't fair to the author/illustrator. That's why I am upfront that it is a me problem. 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

196. Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf

Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf: A Counting Story. Davide Calì. Illustrated by Marianna Balducci. 2022. [September] 36 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. Then the wolf ate them. THE END.
This story is too short! I want a longer one! Once upon a time, there were four little pigs. The wolf ate the first three. Then he ate the fourth, but it took longer because that pig was bigger. THE END. This story is STILL too short. There must be other things happening! Once upon a time, there were five little pigs. The wolf ate the first, then the second, then third, fourth, and fifth. Meanwhile, there was a carnival in the woods. THE END. The little pigs always get eaten too fast! And what does a carnival have to do with anything?

Premise/plot: The big, bad wolf gets to eat a LOT of pigs in this imaginative retelling of the traditional folk tale. The little pigs are bantering with the narrator about the story, about how it is unfolding, and they are not at all happy. However, the narrator seems to be #teamwolf. The narrator mainly seems focused on making sure the wolf is HAPPY and FULL. How many pigs can a wolf eat???

My thoughts: I thought this one was SO MUCH FUN. Fairy tale adaptations can be a hoot. Not always. It's not a guarantee. There have been adaptations and retellings that have not been all that great. But this one, well, it is just fun. (As long as you are not one of the pigs]. 

The book is written as a dialogue of sorts. The text in red represents the pigs. The text in black is the narrator. Two people [adult and child] could easily read this one together. Of course, it doesn't have to be read that way. It would also, I imagine, be great to read aloud in a classroom or library setting. The story is VERY predictable which can be a great thing for this age group.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

195. Creepy Carrots!

Creepy Carrots! Aaron Reynolds. Illustrated by Peter Brown. 2012. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Jasper Rabbit had a passion for carrots. And the carrots that grew in Crackenhopper Field were the best. Fat. Crisp. And free for the taking.

Premise/plot: Jasper LOVES, LOVES, LOVES carrots. Especially the carrots from Crackenhopper Field. But when THOSE CARROTS start following him???? Well, those creepy carrots might just drive him to give up carrots forever. 

My thoughts: A few weeks ago, I met Jasper Rabbit in Creepy Crayon. I really loved that one; it was the THIRD book in the series. I knew I had to track down the other books starring Jasper! This one was so atmospheric! It was so fun in a deliciously creepy--think Twilight Zone--way. The text and illustrations are the perfect combination for this vibe.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

194. Pete the Cat Plays Hide-and-Seek

Pete the Cat Plays Hide and Seek. James and Kimberly Dean. 2022. [September] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Pete and the gang love to play hide-and-seek! And who's the fastest seeker? Cool Cate Pete. 

Premise/plot: Pete the Cat wants to have an absolutely groovy time playing hide-and-seek with his friends. But Pete the Cat is having a horrible time finding his friends! Every time he thinks he's found a friend, it turns out NOT to be that friend. What's a groovy cat to do? 

My thoughts: I wanted to love this one. I did. But Pete the Cat is just not the same being written by James and Kimberly Dean. It's like the difference between a floating-high helium balloon (like at a birthday party) and the next day fallen flat balloon. It's not that it's completely and totally lifeless. You can find some enjoyment to be sure. But the same it is not. I wanted this book--whether fair of me or not--to have the same vibes as Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. I wanted to have a groovy message delivered in a memorable, catchy predictable way. Instead, we just get the message to breathe in and out and not be in a rush. Which I guess is okay???

So the ending of this one is that even though Pete has looked just about everywhere for his friends, when he closes his eyes and breathes in and out, then poof they are right before his eyes. Are we supposed to believe that they were a) there all along and Pete was just too blind to see what was right in front of him, the super-obvious. OR b) all his friends had pity on him and moved while his eyes were closed so that they could be found??? Either way, I'm more meh than excited.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

193. Bravo, Bucket Head!

Bravo, Bucket Head! Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. 2022. [September] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Mousetta always walked backward. Ever since she was a week field mouse, she had felt terribly shy, and by walking backward, she didn't have to worry about meeting anyone. She often hit beneath her mother's skirt. This made her mother appear to have four hind legs. When Mousetta was with her father, she hid inside his jacket, giving him an embarrassing Big Tummy Appearance. 

Premise/plot: Mousetta admires the "regular," popular mouse children....from a very safe distance. When she sees Dr. Gladpaw's advertisement in the paper, she decides to see if his tips can help her out. She wears a BUCKET on her head to this workshop. To her surprise, she's not the only one. Someone is wearing a lampshade! Someone is wearing a wastebasket! Someone is wearing a blanket on [his] head! She is super surprised to find out the identities of all her fellow "shy" mice. 

During this workshop, a potential terrifying "trauma" appears...and it is Mousetta herself who is the bravest. Hence the bravo.

My thoughts: Helen Lester's books tend to the didactic. I don't mean that necessarily in a negative way. The difference between "didactic" and "great message" is all in the mind[s] of the reader[s]. All of her stories have morals or messages. The plot/story is driven by this moral/message. All are predictable to a certain extent. 

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

192. Thanks a Million

Thanks a Million. Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera. 2006. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Reward
"Thank you"
is a seed I plant
in the garden
of your heart.
Your smile
is the flower.
A slow and sweet surprise,
it blooms before my eyes!

Premise/plot: A picture book poetry collection containing sixteen poems by Nikki Grimes. It is a themed collection. There are many ways to show/express gratitude or thankfulness. There are many reasons to be thankful [to give thanks]. 

My thoughts: This is not particularly a "Thanksgiving Day" themed picture book. I am glad of that, in a way. One should be thankful 365 days of the year. Gratitude is an attitude that one should strive towards every day. I appreciated the variety of the poems. There are MANY, MANY things to be thankful for.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

191. Autumnblings

Autumnblings. Douglas Florian. 2003. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Autumn falls in late September.

Premise/plot: Autumnblings is a picture book poetry collection by poet/artist Douglas Florian. There are forty-eight autumn/fall themed poems celebrating this season of the year. It blends two art forms--poetry and art [painting]. Many--though not all--involve word play. Almost all are a celebration of nature. 

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I did. I think my favorite poem from this collection--or one of them at least--is the poem "Awe-tumn."

When summer's seams
Have come undone,
Then greens to reds
And purples run.
A palette falls
To forest floor,
And autumn leaves
Leave me in awe.

I also liked the pumpkin poems! I think they would be such a great read aloud in school classrooms. 

The poem about hibernation [aka Hi-bear-nation] was so much fun!!! I loved the word play.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

190. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer

The Last Last-Day-Of-Summer. (Legendary Alston Boys #1) Lamar Giles. 2019. 304 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: First of all, Grandma's Teacup-Pig calendar lied. It said the last day of summer was September 21. Everyone already knew September was a bad month with no good holiday in sight after Labor Day. Fourth of July was at least two months gone; Halloween was more than a month away. But the real last day of summer was the last Monday in August.

Premise/plot: Otto and Sheed Alston are cousins. Not just any cousins, SUPER-adventurous, legendary cousins. On this last day of summer, they head off for a final adventure. But this adventure quickly turns into a great big MISADVENTURE with potentially epic consequences. It starts with a stranger. A stranger, Mr. Flux, bearing forth a gift--a camera. But not just any camera, nope, this camera has special abilities that lead to TROUBLE. After a click (or two), the boys realize--with a little help from a super-hero????--that the camera FREEZES TIME. And their hometown (and almost everyone in it) is frozen in time. NOT good news. It will take a LOT of brainstorming, guesswork, trial and error, to get things set right. They'll have to work together, yes, but also learn accept help from others as well. 

My thoughts: This was such an entertaining read. I thought it was well-paced with a clever premise. Lots of playing around with TIME. It had its surprisingly deep moments. But overall, good, action-packed, adventure-packed read. I enjoyed both of the main characters.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

189. Walter Had a Best Friend

Walter Had a Best Friend. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Sergia Ruzzier. 2022. [October 18] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Walter had a best friend named Xavier. They hiked up the hill together. They painted pictures together. They were quiet together. Walter and Xavier were best friends.

Premise/plot: Walter and Xavier WERE best friends. This is the story of how their friendship slowly, quietly, un-dramatically ended. It is the story of how Walter mourned the loss of that friendship. Yet how Walter...slowly but surely...healed from that loss and continued on with his life. 

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, crazy-loved this book. I think it's a book for all ages. I think kids do have friends-drama. Without a fail, almost at any age-and-stage, friends drama can (and does) happen. It can be heart-crushing to watch little ones lose "best" friends and usually for no discernible "real" reason. So I do think this one is definitely kid-appropriate. But it's also relatable for any age. It doesn't shy away from the sadness. But it also is so full of hope and resilience.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

188. Kind LIke Fred

The Good Guys Agency #1: Kind Like Fred. 2022. [July] 96 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It was a Saturday morning, and Lucky was on his soapbox...again. "We are no average agency, and our name can't be average either. We are role models, not rascals. Nice guys, not knuckleheads. We are exceptional, remarkable, extraordinary!" Rudy yawned. "I'm pretty sure all those words mean the same thing. What about just good?" 

Premise/plot: Lucky, Rudy, and Red are the kids in the Good Guys Agency. The info dump about the agency is interrupted when the 'good guys' are alerted to an emergency to which they'll need to respond. SIBLINGS ARE DISAGREEING. I repeat, SIBLINGS ARE DISAGREEING. Two siblings--Charlie and Teddy--are fighting. Charlie was building a fort and his little brother wanted to help. But, the fort, well, is and may ever be a rubble pile. How can the good guys help???

Well, it seems Lucky, Red and Charlie are going to zoom the kid cruiser into the land of imagination. Rudy has chosen for these three to "visit" Fred Rogers throughout various moments in his life. Rudy is hoping that Fred Rogers' kindness will rub off on Charlie and he will realize the importance of kindness. 

The book shares a couple of scenes from Fred Rogers' life--at various ages/stages of his life. Readers have the opportunity to "learn" the importance of kindness as well as a little information about Mr. Rogers.

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love Mr. Rogers. That was what initially interested me in this new series. The book is cheese-full. But I think it embraces the cheesiness. It is very reminiscent of shows like Paw Patrol, Team Umizoomi, Little Einsteins, etc. They even have a "kid cruiser" to help take them to the case. 

The text is a blend of an early chapter book [written in prose, with illustrations] and a graphic novel. There are panels on *some* of the pages. There are speech bubbles, etc. It blends the two.  Likewise, it uses a fictional text--and fictional scenario--to present facts about a real person.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

187. The First Notes: The Story of Do, Re, Mi

The First Notes: The Story of Do, Re, Mi. Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton. Illustrated by Chiara Fedele. 2022. [November] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: A thousandyears ago, in the small community of Pomposa, Italy, a boy named Guido was sent to a monastery to begin his schooling. In those days, a monastery was considered the best place to receive an education. The monks who lived and taught there were studious and wise.

Premise/plot: The First Notes is a picture book biography of Guido d'Arezzo, a Benedictine monk who invented musical notation. Guido loved music. Loved it. But it involved a lot of memorization. You learned a song by memory. There was no "reading" music--or "writing" music. There was no way to notate musical notes. Until Guido made a little discovery and invented his own way of writing music so others could read it. 

My thoughts: Julie Andrews--and her daughter, Emma--have written the story of 'do, re, mi.' And though I never thought about the history of musical notation [and scales and such], I really loved reading this story. I found it fascinating. I learned so much.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

186. Under the Christmas Tree

Under the Christmas Tree. Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. 2002. 32 pages. [Source: Library] 

First sentence: I count down
The days of December
And watch for
The cardboard box
Mom keeps
Like a secret
At the back
Of the closet
All year.
Then, one morning,
It appears
Sudden as fog
And out comes
Three strands of bulbs
Waiting to wink
And imitate starlight,
Leftover tinsel
Still showing off
Its sparkle,
And a basket of silver balls
Too delicate
for bouncing.
Magic as mirrors,
They play catch
With every light
In the room.
I dig further and find
The gold acorns
I spray-painted
Last year, a pair
Of quilted reindeer,
And the five-pointed star
Grandma made of lace.
The box bursts with
Forgotten treasures.
But I know we're
Near the bottom
When I find
Jesus, Mary, Joseph,
And the Wise Men,
Their porcelain bodies
Wrapped like mummies.
Do they wonder
Where they've been?
I shrug, then tear their
Tissue-paper shrouds
So they can breathe.
It's then
The Wise Men whisper
Finally
Christmastime is here!

Twenty-three poems [with illustrations] help little ones [and those young at heart] count down the days until Christmas! [or Christmas Eve, to be precise]. These poems celebrate big things, little things, all the in-between things. Poems vary in length. Some poems are just three lines long! While others--like the poem I quoted above--are longer. 

I enjoyed so many of these. But I have a few favorites that I loved, loved, loved.

Plugged In

Forget the house next door.
What are you waiting for?

Like precious jewelry
We stud the rooftop
Bracelet the porch post
Bead the bushes
Pearl the footpath
And ring the old oak tree.

We are ready and set
To shimmer, so
Plug
Us
In.

Isn't that poem wonderful????

I also really loved the poem "Getting to the Good Stuff." I loved the ending so, so, so, much.

Getting to the Good Stuff

I love to open presents
On Christmas Eve, at night.
I love to guess the contents
Then see if I was right.

I love the bits of ribbon
The way the endings curl.
I love the dainty wrapping--
Just perfect for a girl.

I love the tissue paper
That teases "almost there!"
So what if I'm now eighty-three?
Go right ahead and laugh at me
And see how much I care!

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

185. Away with Words!

Away with Words! Wise and Witty Poems for Language Lovers. Mary Ann Hoberman. 2022. 64 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Today the thought occurred to me
That every book's an ABC
And every word you've ever met
Is made out of the alphabet.

But alphabets must stay in line.
A BCA would not be fine.
A letter cannot change its place
And sneak into another space.

In words the letters try new blends,
They meet new neighbors, make new friends.
They move around. They go on trips.
They rearrange relationships.

Every time you change a letter
Alphabet gets alphabetter!

Butter is better
    If you change a letter
Butter is button
    If you change two
Butter is utter
    If you remove one
Utter means "speak"
    And that's what we do!

Change a word or
Change a letter,
Alphabet gets
Alphabetter!

Turn the page and we'll get going
Starting with the letter A
Poems and pictures mixed together
Turn the page
We're on our way!

Premise/plot: These 'wise and witty' poems are arranged alphabetically in this collection. Many--if not most--involve word play. Some poems teach. Like one of the first poems in the collection Assonance/Alliteration. This poem teaches the difference between these two. [Sample alliteration: Pa put peppers on Pat's plate. Sample assonance: Pa wants almonds for Ma's aunt.] Or Lay/Lie. This poem teaches the difference between these two words! [Something I hope I can remember from this day forward.]  Some poems are long. Some are very, very short. Quite a few poems leave an impression--at least on me.

Vast

A tiny word
that encompasses
the universe.

I thought that poem was tiny but fierce.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. Like in ALL poetry collections. I have a handful of favorites that I do like. Poems like Just Think:

Just Think

Locked inside the alphabet
Is every word
That ever was
And every book
that never was

But will be.

I absolutely loved some of these poems. Other poems were so-so. They didn't leave a big impression on me. More of a meh response. But the poems I loved I really loved. So I do recommend this one for sure. Just don't expect MAGIC with every single poem.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

184. Esme's Birthday Conga Line

Esme's Birthday Conga Line. Lourdes Heuer. Illustrated by Marissa Valdez. 2022. [May] 76 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: I live on the uppermost floor of the topmost best building! Today is my birthday. It is the first birthday I am celebrating since moving in with Mimi and Pipo. "Happy Birthday, Esme!" says Mimi. "Happy Birthday, Esmerelda!" says Pipo. "Meow," says El Toro. Mimi and Pipo place a gift in my hands. It's a big one! It's...

Premise/plot: Esme is SUPER happy to be celebrating her birthday. However, she'll be planning her own birthday party. (And she likes it!) Her birthday plans include the whole apartment building. It will be a very festive day! 

My thoughts: Joyous. That's how I'd describe this one. Though adult readers may pause a second or two to consider what may be going behind the scenes and between the lines, the text of this one is just joyfully joyous. Esme is a happy (even happy-go-lucky) protagonist. I love how quickly she turns her ever-so-brief disappointment that her grandparents didn't plan a party for her to excitement that she gets to plan her own party and include the whole building.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

183. Click, Clack, Rainy Day

Click, Clack Rainy Day. Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. 2022. [May] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It is raining on the farm. The rain rolls off the roof of the house. The rain rolls off the roof of the barn. The rain rolls off the roof of the tractor shed. Farmer Brown stays in the house. Farmer Brown does not like to be wet. The rain makes a drip sound. The rain makes a drop sound. The rain makes a drip-drop sound on the window. 

Premise/plot: Level two reader in a popular children's book series. For young readers who are already familiar with these famous--or infamous--cows and their farmer [Farmer Brown] there is much to love. The cows are super contrary. While Farmer Brown and all the others HATE getting wet in the rain, these cows--the very same cows who wanted electric blankets to stay warm--love, love, love the wet, rainy weather.

My thoughts: The more you love the original series, the more I think you will probably appreciate this installment. I haven't read each and every book in the series, but there are certainly books in this series that I absolutely love, love, love and adore. I liked this one very much. I liked how contrary the cows were! The book was definitely on the silly side. I liked the rhythmic repetition.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

182. Hairy, Hairy Poodle

Hairy, Hairy Poodle. Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by Abigail Tompkins. 2022. [May] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: There is a dog
that you might meet
in the country,
on the street.
Her coat can simply not be beat.
No other canine
can compete.

Premise/plot: What you see is EXACTLY what you get. If you want to read a book about a HAIRY, HAIRY POODLE look no further than Marilyn Singer's Ready-to-Read early reader. This one stars a poodle whose hair keeps growing and growing and growing and growing and growing. The whole story is told in rhyme and written in verse.

My thoughts: Early readers don't get a lot of coverage on my blog. I tend to forget about this in-between. I love picture books and early chapter books so much that I almost forget about this important go-between stage in reading of being read aloud to and reading on one's own. This is a good early reader. I found it enjoyable, or enjoyable enough. I liked the repetition.

Poodle coming,
Poodle going.
Poodle's curly hair
is growing.
In sunlight, rain, or
big wind blowing,
Poodle's hair
is always growing.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

181. Our Friend Hedgehog: A Place to Call Home

Our Friend Hedgehog: A Place to Call Home. Lauren Castillo. 2022. [October 18] 80 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Between the great forests, in the center of the river, on a teeny-tiny island, lived two dear friends: Hedgehog and Mutty. 

Premise/plot: Our Friend Hedgehog: A Place to Call Home is the follow up to Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us. The first book established the characters [and setting]. The second book explores the meaning of home, family, and belonging. Hedgehog, our heroine, is super-excited about winter. She is excited to build a hedgehog out of snow, to have snowball fights, to play with her newfound friends. But an unexpected encounter with another hedgehog has her rethinking her life. Does she belong with her found-family of friends? Or does she belong with others of her kind? Should she feel more a sense of belonging with other hedgehogs? 

My thoughts: I really am enjoying this series very much. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the illustrations. The characters are well done. I wouldn't mind a couple more books in this series. I'm sure the love will only increase the more adventures we have. I love how her friends come together to help, support, and encourage. Slowly but surely other characters are being explored as the adventures increase.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

180. Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us

Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us. Lauren Castillo. 2020. 128 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Sometimes you make a friend and it feels like you have known that friend your entire life. Hedgehog, Mutty, Mole, Owl, Beaver, Hen and Chicks, and me, Annika Mae. You might think it has always been this way, but it has not. There was a series of events that brought us all together. This is our friendship story. This is the story of us.

Premise/plot: What you see is EXACTLY what you get. This is the story of how Hedgehog's friendship circle expands beyond a stuffed animal [Mutty]. It begins--as many stories do--with a storm. When the storm "steals" Mutty away, Hedgehog sets off on a quest to find her best [and only] friend. Along the way, she'll encounter Mole, Owl, Beaver, a Hen [and her Chicks] and Annika Mae. 

My thoughts: I love, love, crazy love the illustrations. If this cover doesn't shout read me, read me, I don't know what does. The illustrations are so super-sweet and adorable. The story is packed with adventures. Hedgehog is determined on her quest. And it turns out others are kind, welcoming, and helpful. I love that Hedgehog's family expands.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

179. Farmhouse

Farmhouse. Sophie Blackall. 2022. [September] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Over a hill,
at the end of a road,
by a glittering stream
that twists and turns,
stands a house
where twelve children
were born and raised,
where they learned to crawl
in the short front hall,
where they posed, arranged
on the wooden stairs,
and were measured with marks
over the years,
where they carved potatoes
and dipped them in paint
to pattern the walls
with flowers and leaves,
and painted the cat,
about which they lied,
for which they were scolded
and maybe they cried
and then were enfolded
in forgiving arms
in the serious room
(where the organ was played
and speeches were made),
but if they weren't
even sorry at all,
they were sent to their rooms,

Premise/plot: Is Farmhouse the world's LONGEST run-on sentence???? Perhaps. I gave up on trying to find proper ending punctuation for my first sentence. (A question mark, a period, an exclamation point). The book was inspired by the author buying an OLD dilapidated farmhouse. She was thinking about the kinds of stories the house could tell about its former inhabitants. 

My thoughts: I may not love the run-on sentence. [It might be slightly above my maturity level]. But, I enjoyed thinking about this one. The illustrations are super-detailed. There is a lot to unpack if you take the time to look closely at each spread of this picture book. The illustrations really do invite you in. [In my opinion.] The text had some lovely imagery. I'm just not sure why it had to be to be one long sentence. One does get the idea of the house being lived in. But when you break down the lines, to me at least, it got a bit messy.

I mentioned that the author bought property with an old farmhouse. The farmhouse could not be salvaged (saved, rescued) but the stories--informed both by descendants of the original owners, photos, and scrapbooks AND the author's imagination--could be.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

178. Thanks for Nothing

Thanks for Nothing. Ryan T. Higgins. 2021. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The air is crisp, and the leaves are changing. It is fall in Soggy-Hollow and everyone is thankful. Even Bruce. He is making a surprise fall feast for the mice. There is a surprise for Bruce, too.

Premise/plot: Bruce, our ever-grumpy bear, is trying his best to be super-thankful. But. It isn't always easy to be thankful when it seems the whole world [aka his found-family] is against him. His BIG plans for the feast, well, don't go according to his plan. Will anyone end up truly thankful?

My thoughts: I really love, love, love Bruce. I love his found-family. He always stars in the funniest books. The whole series is fabulous. I do think the books build on each other. It doesn't necessarily matter the order, but, the more you read with these characters, I think the better you'll enjoy/appreciate the stories.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

177. Lily to the Rescue: The Not So Stinky Skunk

The Not So Stinky Skunk (Lily to the Rescue #3) W. Bruce Cameron. 2020. 144 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "Lily, Lily, Lily!" Maggie Rose said to me. "We're going camping, Lily!" Maggie Rose is my girl, and I am her dog. When she is happy, I am very happy. When she is excited, I am very excited. She was obviously excited and happy at this moment, so I jumped up to put my feet on her knees and then dropped down to run in circles around the kitchen. Whatever was going on, it was the best!

Premise/plot: Maggie Rose and her dad are going on a special father-daughter camping trip (and bringing Lily, of course). He'll be working, in part, relocating prairie dogs. But this qualifies as quality family time as well. On the trip, Lily encounters a not-stinky skunk. She is NOT sprayed. The dad realizes this skunk needs help because without the ability to spray the skunk will be helpless when it comes to defense. So with a little help from Lily they rescue the skunk and take her to a safe place.

My thoughts: I really love Lily. I do. I love the narrative voice of Lily in these early chapter books. (Animal fantasy if you want to be super specific). I love seeing the world through a dog's perspective. Lily is super cute and adorable.

I definitely recommend the series as a whole. This would be a great series to read with your young readers.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers