121. The Kitten Who Thought He Was A Mouse

Picture Book: (Golden Book) The Kitten Who Thought He Was A Mouse. Miriam Norton. Illustrated by Garth Williams. 1951. 22 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to cover image]

First sentence: There were five Miggses: Mother and Father Miggs, and Lester and two sisters. They had, as field mice usually do, an outdoor nest for summer in an empty lot and an indoor nest for winter in a nearby house. They were very surprised one summer day to find a strange bundle in their nest, a small gray and black bundle of fur and ears and legs, with eyes not yet open. They knew by its mewing that the bundle must be a kitten, a lost kitten with no family and no name.

Premise/plot: Mickey is the kitten raised as a mouse. He goes many months thinking--believing--that he is a mouse. He's raised to fear cats, to watch for cats. So what happens when the human family discovers him, starts feeding him, and shows him--via a mirror--that he IS a cat. Can he overcome the confusion? Will he choose to live as a mouse or a cat? How will he feel about his adopted family? 

My thoughts: I'll be honest the text was all over the place. I'm all for nature versus nurture. (Though it isn't always my favorite or best theme. My favorite of this type being LAMBERT THE SHEEPISH LION which is just pure awesomeness.) I loved, loved, loved the illustrations by Garth Williams. Garth Williams illustrating cute and adorable cats, kittens, and mice?!?! I'm there for it. I'd read it for his illustrations alone.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

120. Anatole and the Cat

Anatole and the Cat (Anatole #2) Eve Titus. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. 1957. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to cover image] 

First sentence: In all France there was no mouse more honored or respected than Anatole. He was very proud of his job as Cheese Taster at the factory of M'sieu Duval. Nobody knew that he was not a man but a mouse, not even M'sieu Duval, for he did his work after the others went home.  

Premise/plot: Anatole is Vice President in charge of tasting all the cheese. (What a job!) But his job security--and his life--is threatened by the presence of an unexpected cat in the factory. The owner has a cat that is, well, stubborn. Anatole writes M. Duval and tells him the cat must go or he will. If the boss can't keep his cat under control, maybe just maybe Anatole can bell that cat!

My thoughts: These two Anatole books are AWESOME. I really loved both books. I adore the illustrations. Highly recommended.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

119. Anatole

Picture book: Anatole (Anatole #1) Eve Titus. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. 1956. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to cover image]

First sentence: In all France there was no happier, more contented mouse than Anatole. He lived in a small mouse village near Paris with his dear wife Doucette and their six charming children--Paul and Paulette, Claude and Claudette, George and Georgette. 

Premise/plot: Anatole is flustered, to say the least, when he learns that humans think of mice as vermin. He decides to 'redeem' the way things are--mice sneaking human food. He goes to a cheese factory prepared. He brings typed notes (flags, I believe). Extra-'Specially Good, 'Specially Good, Good, Not So Good, No Good. He will stick these flags/notes into each cheese he samples. He'll also write additional notes sharing his opinions. M. Duvall is surprised but ultimately pleased. He listens to Anatole's advice and his sales increase. Anatole has a gift for what makes a great cheese great. M. Duvall invites Anatole to continue visiting the factory and helping out. He even leaves extra snacks and treats. (Of course, he doesn't know Anatole is a mouse exactly). Anatole is therefore honorably able to provide for his family. It's a win-win situation...

My thoughts: I LOVED this one. I loved it so much!!! It is one of those that is practically perfect in every way. I loved the text, the story. I loved the illustrations. What a fun world Eve Titus created! 

I really loved the five categories Anatole uses. I might even use those categories instead of stars. Maybe.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

118. Oh No, The Aunts Are Here

Picture Book: Oh No, the Aunts Are Here. Adam Rex. Illustrated by Lian Cho. 2023. [May] 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to cover image]

First sentence: STOP. Do you hear that? Something's coming. They're getting closer. They're snapping shut their purses and stepping out of shuttles from the airport. Oh No. The aunts are here.

Premise/plot: A little girl is distressed (slight exaggeration) by her four visiting aunts. Do they stay a weekend? a week? a lifetime? Probably closer to a weekend. But for this little girl who does not appreciate her aunts, it may seem like a lifetime. 

The point of view from this one, I believe, is meant to humorous and solely from the point of view of the young child. The humor is definitely at the aunts' expense for better or worse. This little one does NOT really like the disruption. (Or the fact that her aunts have an interest in quilts, quilts, and more quilts).

My thoughts: Will children find this one amusing? Maybe. Maybe not. Will adults? Again, I think it depends on your own perspective. This one had some humorous lines--no doubt. But overall, it isn't necessarily written from the point of view that aunts are awesome. (More like aunts are bothersome.) 

The illustrations seem a little over the top, exaggerated. Definitely emphasizing the humor and comedy.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

117. Truffle: A Dog (And Cat) Story

Picture book: Truffle: A Dog (And Cat) Story. David McPhail. 2023. [June] 40 pages. [Source: Review copy] [Link to Cover Image] 

First sentence: Truffle was born on a farm.

Premise/plot: This picture book is a "biography" of Truffles, a dog who only slowly--oh so slowly--began to change his opinion on cats. This dog was a cat-hater for many, many, many years. In fact, he wanted to travel to a place where there were NO CATS. (The travel agent said, no, such a place doesn't exist!) How does a dog come to have a cat for a best, best friend???

My thoughts: This picture book has an old fashioned [delightfully old-fashioned] vibe. It does read more like a biography than most picture books. There is story, but it goes at its own pace. I don't mind the slower pace. I enjoyed the illustrations and the story. I LOVE the direction the story goes. I love the inclusion of tea, for example. I don't know that this one will have much appeal to young children--or masses of young children. It's not your typical book. But I--as an adult--really enjoyed it.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

116. Cowy Cow

Board book: Cowy Cow. Chris Raschka. 2014. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to cover image]

First sentence: Cowy Cow has one hundred ideas. Here are some of her ideas. Number 79: Green is the best color ever. Number 34: If you chew grass long enough, it might taste like a gluten-free oatmeal raisin cookie. Cowy Cow, have you ever tasted a gluten-free oatmeal raisin cookie?

Premise/plot: Board book to read aloud to little ones. (Farm books should be their own genre or sub-genre.)

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed Cowy Cow. What you should expect: silliness, more silliness, even more silliness. A genius cow with "one hundred" ideas shares two of her ideas in this board book. 

When I first read Cowy Cow I was not a special gluten-free diet. Now that I am, it personally works for me a little bit better. Is this humor kid-humor???? I don't know. I really don't. I can see how someone might read this one cover to cover and be like THIS GOT PUBLISHED? But I liked it more than not.

I liked the illustrations.

 

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

115. The Teachers I Loved Best

PICTURE BOOK: The Teachers I Loved Best. Taylor Mali. Illustrated by Erica Root. 2023. [March] 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Easy teachers who gave easy tests
are not the teachers I loved the best.
No, I loved the teachers who made me work hard
in the classroom, the science lab, the theater, and the schoolyard.
Those are the teachers who stand out from all the rest.
Those are the teachers that I loved the best.

Premise/plot: This picture book celebrates teachers. It is written in rhyming verse. It particularly pays tribute to the arts--art teachers, music teachers, theater teachers, etc. The narrator of the poem concludes that the best teachers are the ones who love their students and are loved in return.

My thoughts: I wanted to love, love, love this one. I didn't quite. Not because I don't love and appreciate teachers. (I do). I just thought the rhythm was slightly off throughout this picture book written in verse. Just a personal opinion, I know. At times it felt a little clunky. Still, I appreciate the premise of this one.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

114. Pew! The Stinky and Legen-dairy Gift

Pew! The Stinky and Legen-dairy Gift From Colonel Thomas S. Meacham by Cathy Stefanec Ogren. Illustrated by Lesley Breen. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: In late summer of 1835, Thomas Meacham wanted to give the President of the United States a gift to show off the talents of his farming community. A slice of an idea grew into a huge idea, a colossal idea...CHEESE!  

Premise/plot: Nonfiction picture book. This one is about a COLOSSAL cheese given to the President of the United States by Thomas Meacham, a dairy farmer. How colossal is colossal?!?! Four feet in diameter, two feet thick, and weighed 1400 pounds. Truly colossal! This gift was on display...but...as weeks turned to months turned to a year...well, this cheese got STINKY. What's a President to do except have a HUGE cheese-eating party?!?! Will the spirit of the cheese linger on in the White House?

My thoughts: I wish the book had just said WHICH president received this legen-dairy stinky gift! Instead of just repeating "President of the United States." True, kids might not care *which* president had to live with the stink. But I do. I believe that the President in question was Andrew Jackson who remained in office through March 4, 1837.

 I thought the story was entertaining and lively. It's nice to have a history lesson packed with fun.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

113. How Do You Spell Unfair?

How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: MacNolia Cox was no ordinary kid. Her idea of fun was reading the dictionary. From A to Z, she learned words' meanings and spellings. She loved to read, study, and spell. In 1936, the eighth grader won her school spelling bee. After MacNolia passed a fifty-word written test and an oral competition, she advanced to the Beacon Journal newspaper's citywide bee.

Premise/plot: Nonfiction picture book about MacNolia Cox's experiences with the National Spelling Bee in 1936. The National Spelling Bee is held in Washington, D.C. She was one of two African-American children competing in the Spelling Bee--both being among the first to do so at the national level. 

My thoughts: This is a picture book that explores prejudice and discrimination from a specific historic event. Chances are most readers have not heard of this particular instance. Though MacNolia Cox seems to have been greatly celebrated--especially at a local and statewide level--at the time. 

I was not familiar with the history of spelling bees--regional or national. And the epilogue gives an overview of how spelling bees eventually became integrated.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

112. Ella Fitzgerald (She Persisted)

Ella Fitzgerald (She Persisted) Andrea Davis Pinkney. Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger. 2023. [April] 80 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born with her own special rhythm.

Premise/plot: Ella Fitzgerald is one of the nonfiction biographies in the "She Persisted" series. It is an illustrated chapter book biography. It is an age-appropriate biography of the legendary singer. It will serve as an introduction (I hope!) to Ella Fitzgerald's music.

My thoughts: I love, love, love Ella Fitzgerald. I do. While adults who are familiar with her life probably won't learn much that is 'new' to them, this is a good introduction for elementary-aged young readers. There are a few picture book biographies of her as well, I believe.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

111. Ways to Build Dreams

Sadly No Cover Yet

Ways to Build Dreams. Renee Watson. Illustrated by Nina Mata. 2023. [October] 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Everything feels new. The clothes I got for Christmas still fit in that stiff way that new clothes fit, and they haven't been worn enough to start fading. We've finally stopped eating holiday food and have gone back to more everyday meals--peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, burgers and fries, spaghetti. We're two weeks into the new year, and still people are saying Happy New Year! if it's the first time they've seen someone since December.

Premise/plot: This is the fourth Ryan Hart novel. Previous books include: Ways To Make Sunshine, Ways to Grow Love, and Ways to Share Joy. This LOVELY chapter book covers Ryan Hart's last five months in elementary school (aka, January - May of her fifth grade year). Readers spend time with Ryan Hart at school and home. 

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, crazy love the Ryan Hart series. I adore every single member of her family. I love Ryan, Ray, Rose, the parents, and the grandma. I ADORE the relationships between all the family members. I love seeing the complexities of those relationships. I love seeing Ryan hang out with her best friends. I love seeing her strive at school. I love the occasional trip to church. Everything about Ryan Hart's world is one I'm invested in--I just adore this series so much. 

This one has so many perfectly-perfect scenes. I don't know if this is the last book, but if it happens to be the last book it is incredibly satisfying. (Do I want it to be the end? No. Never. I want to be friends with Ryan forever and ever and ever.) 

Quotes:

Always, they ask, What do you want to do when you grow up? but I have never been asked, Who do you want to be? I've never thought about there being a difference.
Like she [her Grandma] is thinking again about how I am changing, changing. She is smiling at me in a way that tells me her love is not based on what I do, but who I am.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

110. Nat the Cat Takes a Bath

Nat the Cat Takes a Bath (Ready to Read: Pre-Level One) Jarrett Lerner. 2023. [May] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: This is Nat. Nat is a cat. Nat the Cat is going to take a bath. I said, Nat the Cat is going to take a bath. Why are you not taking a bath, Nat the Cat?

Premise/plot: Nat the Cat does NOT want to take a bath. Can the narrator of the book get Nat in the bath? (Hint: It might take most of the thirty-two pages!)

My thoughts: I love books where the narrator and the protagonist banter. I do. I also love, love, love, love cats. (And this one stars an adorable gray tabby cat named Nat). This was a fun early reader. It has more story to it than the early readers I grew up with!

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

109. What Does Baby See?

What Does Baby See (Board Book) Peter Pauper Press, Inc. Illustrated by Simon Abbott. 2023. 20 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: sun rises
eyes open
what does baby see?
bottle
tree
flower
apple
clouds floating
raindrops dripping
what does baby hear?

Premise/plot: This is a high contrast (black and white) board book for very small ones. It has four "parts." First, what does baby see. Second, what does baby hear. Third, who does baby see. Fourth, what does baby dream. (One thing that baby will not see in this board book is capital letters.)

My thoughts: What you see is what you get. Everything is black-and-white, high contrast. Each page has a few words--most just one word, a few have a sentence (for example, what does baby see?) This is a concept book--of sorts. (Concept books typically do shapes, colors, numbers, letters, opposites, etc.) This "concept book" is more selling an experience--encouraging parents to hold little ones on their lap and read aloud to them at a very, very young age. It's about *that* experience--that bonding, that growing familiarity with reading time, that the book is selling, in my personal opinion.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

108. Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy

Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy (Doggo and Pupper #3) Katherine Applegate. Illustrated by Charlie Alder. 2023. [March] 96 pages. [Source: Library]
 

First sentence: "Bad news," said Cat. "The humans had another idea." "Uh-oh," said Doggo. "Oh no," said Pupper.

Premise/plot: THE HUMANS HAVE BOUGHT CAT A NEW BED. Doggo, Pupper, and Cat spend the rest of the book searching for cozy. Cat is unable--unwilling--to sleep in his new bed. The friends talk about what makes something cozy. And they try to find something suitable... Doggo and Pupper decide that the old bed may be the only option. If Cat isn't sleeping, they can't sleep either. But is the old bed the answer????

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one so much. This illustrated early chapter book (early reader???) is so wonderful. But GoodReads says this is the FINAL book in a TRILOGY. How can this be???? Why???? I am not ready to say goodbye. Not polite at all to end the series when it is so good, so enjoyable. 

I do recommend all three books. I love all the characters. It's a funny series for elementary readers.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

107. Great Mouse Detective: Basil of Baker Street

Basil of Baker Street. (Great Mouse Detective). Eve Titus. 1958. 113 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence:  The mystery of the missing twins could never have been solved by an ordinary detective. But Basil, of course, was far from ordinary.

Premise/plot: Basil and Dr. David Q. Dawson share a house with Sherlock Holmes. Basil, the great detective, is a mouse who learns from the best of the best. Dr. David Q. Dawson is his sidekick, his Watson, if you will. In this early chapter book--illustrated, of course, the two solve the case of two missing children--Agatha and Angela. This is a case that will put them in some degree of danger--particularly from owls--but they will stay on the case and follow all the clues...

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I think I would have probably loved it even more as a kid. It just LOOKS like a delightful, fun, animal fantasy. (And fortunately, it is nothing like Stuart Little.) As an adult, I do have a few questions as to how this mouse society works. The infrastructure between the human world and the mouse world--I've got questions. It makes sense that his mouse city would all be housed either in the basement or the attic of Sherlock Holmes' place, but, I'm not sure HOW he gets around to all the places he gets. And I think there's even trains? I don't know. The more I thought about this one, the more questions I had. But it was in some ways just a delight.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

106. Princess Private Eye

Princess Private Eye. Evelyn Skye. 2023. [May] 320 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Genevieve Sun limped into Frying Nemo on her crutches, sat down in the booth closest to the door, and picked up a menu like she was going to order. 

Premise/plot: Gen (aka Genevieve) is a foster kid with a gift of detecting. The book opens with eleven good detective traits. (I don't know that they are so much traits as tips or guidelines.) She's on a case in the opening chapter. Soon after she makes her appearance, she's followed by two strangers...do they wish her harm? These two end up changing her life....and the course of this book.

In case you didn't guess it, Gen is a lost princess. She's in the foster care system, true, but that's only because her QUEEN grandmother didn't know she'd survived the car crash that killed her parents. Gen had no idea she was royalty. Now that she's been "found" will her detective work be finished? 

My thoughts: I have so many thoughts about this one. I loved the opening chapters. Loved. But once Gen is swept up and away to her kingdom, well, the book stopped working for me personally. It went from a fun and delightful light mystery for elementary readers to a super-cheese-full Disney movie from several decades ago. There are only so many small made-up tiny countries with royalty stories that one can tolerate or like. And when this one transitioned from real world to fantasy world, it lost something. The world-building was less than ideal. The characterization, well, it felt flat and one-dimensional. It had so much potential at the start. The plot of this one is just a groaner. Maybe it wouldn't be if you were a kid?

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

105. Dazzle Makes a Wish

Dazzle Makes a Wish (Book Buddies #3) Cynthia Lord. Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. 2023. 80 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: For weeks the unicorn waited on the toy store shelf. Families came and went, but no one bought the snow-white unicorn with a twisty horn and a sparkly pink tail. On his tag, it said his name was Dazzle. It also said that unicorns can grant wishes, but only for someone with a good heart. Dazzle didn’t know if he could grant a wish for himself. But he thought it was worth a try. So every night, he made the same wish. I wish for a home and a child of my own.

Premise/plot: Dazzle (the unicorn) has one wish--to belong to one child and be LOVED. Unfortunately, Dazzle's wish is unlikely to come true--at least in the traditional sense. Dazzle is purchased, but, not for one child. He is instead purchased for many children. He is "rescued in the wild" (if you will) by Anne the Librarian. (Or is it Ann the librarian?) Dazzle becomes a book buddy. Children (with library cards) can check out a toy--a book buddy--in addition to checking out books. Dazzle goes home with Maya as a book buddy...and adventures are had....

My thoughts: I absolutely love the Book Buddies series. I've read all three books. I highly recommend the series. It is everything I would have LOVED as a kid growing up. Let's be honest, it is everything I love now as an adult. Books and toys just go well together. I love the fantasy of it as well. Each book introduces us readers to a new toy, a new child, and new adventures. The toy sections very much read like Toy Story (minus the scary/creepy elements). While Dazzle is the toy selected by Maya; Maya's brother chooses a garden gnome whom he pretends is a wizard. It's just silly goodness. 

To be honest, Dazzle would not be my first choice of toy to bring home. I definitely discriminate against glitter. I just have a zero tolerance level for shedding glitter. This book might help me feel guilty about that. But still. 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

104. Mihi Ever After: A Giant Problem

A Giant Problem. (Mihi Ever After #2) Tae Keller. 2023. [May] 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Mihi Whan Park was sitting in the library for indoor recess. Again. Two months ago, she'd: 1) discovered a portal to a fairy tale world 2) met Sleeping Beauty, Snow White's evil queen, and Goldilocks's three bears 3) survived a horde of enchanted ladies-in-waiting.

Premise/plot: Mihi and her (new) friends Reese and Savannah return to the dangerous fairy tale realm (the portal is a refrigerator in the school library). Though these three barely escaped the first time round, these three are back again for a second adventure. Why? Well, Genevieve, Mihi's nemesis (frenemy), has ventured into the realm. Mihi thinks that Genevieve will need help to survive and return. She surely knows that it took all three of them [Mihi, Reese, Savannah] to escape the first time. So much trickery and deceit in that realm. 

Expect a giant, a beanstalk, and Jack in this second book.

 

My thoughts: The Rainbow Realm is topsy-turvy and unpredictable. Mihi and friends do have trouble detecting who is being honest and who is lying. To be fair, sometimes it's because they are just in a tough predicament where they have to make a decision to move forward. Even a bad mistake is movement forward. There are a lot of villains in this one. Few are just openly villainous. Many are "I'm just misunderstood" or "I'm trying to rewrite my story." A few villains they trust turn out to be honest (a wolf and fox), but others are just lying (a witch?). 

I am not the intended audience for these--obviously. I think they are certainly entertaining...especially for kids in that intended age range. (Perhaps not so much for adults just for the fun of it.) These books--the first two--focus a lot on the tricky relationships. It is so tough to make friends and keep friends. Both books look at what makes a friend a good friend in addition to how to BE a friend even when the other person isn't the kindest or nicest.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

103. Woo Hoo You're Doing Great!

Woo Hoo! You're Doing Great! Sandra Boynton. 2023. [April] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Have you been feeling king of low? A little lost? a little slow? Perhaps unsure of what to do? And how to do it? Is that you? Or are you feeling quite upended? Underprepared and overextended? Or is it ALL too much for you? So much to learn. So much to do.  WELL, I CAN HELP YOU! YES, INDEED! I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED...

Premise/plot: Who wouldn't want a super-excited, enthusiastic chicken cheering them on?!?!?! 

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one. It was silly, exuberant, over-the-top (but in a good way). I loved every spread of this one.  I haven't read that many books (most of them are board books, I believe???) by Sandra Boynton. I don't know if these characters are familiar and beloved stars of previous books? But even knowing very little about these characters, I was super happy to spend time with them in this rhyming picture book.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

102. Astrid Astronaut: The Astronomically Grand Plan

The Astronomically Grand Plan (Astrid the Astronaut #1) Rie Neal. Illustrated by Talitha Shipman. 2022. [July] 112 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: I tapped my clock for the millionth time: 12:06 a.m. The numbers flashed off like they always did. As if they were mad I'd woken them up.

Premise/plot: Astrid, the protagonist, dreams of being the first astronaut in space with hearing aids. Space is literally all she thinks about. Okay, not fair exactly. She also emphatically wants her friend, Hallie, to be equally obsessed with space and to share the exact same hopes and dreams--Shooting Stars club, Space Camp, Space. But this third grader is to be disappointed in part. Her best friend wants art club, not the Shooting Stars. And she doesn't seem interested at all--not even a little bit--in listening to her friend talk about space. (Did she ever?) So if friendship is important to Astrid, perhaps it's time to make new friends in Shooting Stars.

My thoughts: I liked this one. It has potential. I don't regret my time reading it by any means. I would probably check out other books from the library in this series. I'm not sure I'd be terribly upset if the library didn't order them all. But it was enjoyable enough. I think future books might have more story.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

101. Animals in Pants

Animals in Pants. Suzy Levinson. Illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell. 2023. [April] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Cat-Itude
This cat wears pants.
They're custom-made
in tiger-striped velour.
You can't ignore
a cat in pants.
That's what he wears them for.

Premise/plot: This one is a collection of poems celebrating ANIMALS IN PANTS. Each poem is illustrated. Each one features an animal in pants. Plenty of animals, plenty of pants, so many rhymes. 

My thoughts: What you see is what you get. No tricks here. I will say that I wasn't personally 100% sold on the rhythm of the rhyming poems. (Some work better than others). But overall, this silly poetry book was enjoyable. I definitely had a couple of favorite poems, including the first poem, "Cat-Itude."

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

100. BugBlock

Board book: Bugblock. Christopher Franceschelli. Illustrated by Peski Studio. 2023. [April] 84 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Bugs are incredible! They have lived on earth since before the dinosaurs. Scientists who study bugs are called entomologists. 

Premise/plot: This is an insect-themed, bug-themed board book for young readers. This is part of Abrams' "Block" series of board books. This one is more informational and nonfiction than the other books in the series, I think. (Though I suppose many can be considered 'concept' books.) It is packed with facts.

My thoughts: I don't particularly like bugs or insects. I do like good nonfiction. This one is full of interesting information. While it may not appeal to every single little one, there will be plenty who will enjoy it.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers