130. Roar for Reading

Roar for Reading. Beth Ferry. Illustrated by Andrew Joyner. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] 

First sentence: The history of lions and libraries is long and curious. No one knows exactly how or why the first lion came to the first library. It may have been because libraries were once small, and books were once rare. And who better to guard something rare and precious than someone who could roar?

Premise/plot: A lion and her cub are outraged to learn that some books are being banned from the library so they decide to roar to let their voices be heard.

My thoughts: Some books preach to the choir. This is one of those books. It is an agenda-driven book with a thinly-fleshed-out story attached. Labeling a book banned is essentially a way to get wider readership. It is free advertising for everyone concerned. I wouldn't be surprised if it keeps some books in print and circulation. In some ways, any PR is good PR. I mean merely that having a book on a banned book lists gets it readers that it might not otherwise get. It is essentially saying: read this book, you'll like it.

On the one hand, I don't like to read books with heavy-handed hammer-banging. On the other hand, I am not in support of banning books.

It is a complex issue with room for LOTS of confusion. It is a LAYERED subject that is often over-simplified. For example, I don't think it is recognized enough that it isn't just one group, one organization, one institution, one mindset, one worldview "doing" all the book "banning." ANYONE from ANY group, ANY individual can be an advocate for banning a specific book. 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

128-129 Two MORE board books

128. Board book: Let's Eat (An All Are Welcome Book) Alexandra Penfold. Illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman. 2024. 26 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

First sentence: I like noodles. I like beans. I like rice. I like greens. I like bread. I like fruit. 

Premise/plot: The [illustrated] kids that star in Alexandra Penfold's newest board book love to eat...and love to eat all together with their friends. This is an incredibly simple, bare-bones book to share with little ones. It follows a pattern. I like fill-in-the-blank....except for the one time when they throw in a toot joke. 

My thoughts: Not enough of a story to entertain me personally. However if I had a little one to read aloud to, this one would fit in just fine. When it comes to books and exposure to books, more, more, more I say.  I wouldn't not read this one. Here's another thing, as adults you can never predict what book your little one might absolutely love and form a connection with. It isn't always the one that you would think it would be. 

129. Board book: I Love You Berry Much! Rosamund Lloyd. Illustrated by Kat Uno. 2024. 20 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

First sentence: Rise and shine--
it's a brand-new day.
Look who's strolling up my way.
You're so fine-apple!

You make me laugh,
you make me smile.
You look so sweet in any style.
You're one in a melon!

Premise/plot: This is a [mostly] fruit themed book of sentimental puns to share with little ones. Essentially one of those foods-with-faces books that are always equal parts cheese and sugar. (That is cheesy and super sweet.) 

My thoughts: This one is supposed to have lots of bumps for tactile learners. However in my personal opinion the bumps were almost non-existent. So nonexistent that I didn't catch onto the fact that the book was supposed to feature bumps specifically for children who are all about tactile experiences. I had to hunt for the bumps. And I was ultimately disappointed with what I "found." I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE tactile books. So I would have loved it if the book had delivered on that.

So why four stars if I found the book disappointing? I actually enjoyed the illustrations and the rhyming narrative. I thought both were well done.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

127. Tacos

127. Tacos. Frank Asch. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [picture books]

First sentence: One day Papa Bear came home from work and announced, "Good news! My boss is sending me to Arizona next week on a business trip, and I can bring my family." "Wonderful!" said Mama Bear. "But I can't go. I have to prepare for the library book sale." 

Premise/plot: Papa Bear takes Baby Bear to Arizona with him on a business trip. On the trip, Baby Bear tries his first taco. And it is LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Life-changing love and obsession. Baby Bear loves tacos so much he never wants to leave. Papa Bear reassures him that they can continue to eat tacos once they return home. They can even make tacos at home.

My thoughts: I too LOVE tacos. The story is taco-themed which may be enough for some readers. I am not familiar with Frank Asch and his Bear characters. I know that this book is part of a larger body of work. This one may offer some nostalgia for the illustrations and characters for those that are familiar with the Bear family.  

 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

125-126. Two board books

125. You're The Pumpkin In My Pie (Board book). Laura Gehl. Illustrated by Vanessa Port. 2024. 20 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] 

First sentence: You're the sunny in my sunrise
You're the honey in my tea
You're the sugar on my donut
You're the leaf, and I'm the tree

Premise/plot: This is a fall-themed board book for parents to share with little ones. What you see is essentially what you get. Cutesy pictures packed with sentiment.

My thoughts: I definitely liked this one. I did not like the lack of punctuation. Not a single period in the book. And that's not because the author went with exclamation marks instead. (Which definitely could have been the vibe, a little over the top, but potentially workable.) I do love fall. I especially love pumpkins. I think my favorite line might be, "I'm the ghost and you're my boo."

 126. Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks Touch and Trace (board book). Richard Scarry. 2024. 14 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

First sentence: My! Isn't Busytown a busy, busy place? Just look at all those cars and trucks! The  Pig family is going to the beach to have a picnic. Can you help them find their way there? Please hurry up, Ma Pig!

Premise/plot: What you see is what you get. That's not a bad thing. A busily illustrated book that asks little ones to 'touch and trace' their way through various mazes. Each maze covers a two-page spread. 

My thoughts: I grew up reading Richard Scarry's books. I will never not like a Richard Scarry book. This one is in a board book format. The details are very, very, very small. Then again the target audience is very small, so probably not much of an issue. But Richard Scarry books used to be OVERSIZED in a delightful way. It was easier to spot the many, many details--the little things, the side quests if you will. I do like that there is more than one way to solve each maze.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

124. The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe

124. The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe. Shannon and Dean Hale. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2024. 96 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [early chapter book, illustrated chapter book, series book, fantasy]

First sentence: Duchess Wigtower had a problem. A fuzzy, furry, claw-pawed problem. And he was sitting beneath her shredded portrait. Licking his leg. And looking bored. 

Premise/plot: Princess Magnolia is the recipient of a "stray" cat. The cat being absolutely ADORABLE soon wins her heart. But as Magnolia vanishes [to become the Princess in Black] she is always returning to find a HUGE mess. The cat is T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Can she find a way for the cat to fully BELONG in her world? Can she succeed where Duchess Wigtower has failed?

My thoughts: THE CAT. This one is worth reading for the illustrations of the cat alone. Of course the story is entertaining, but, it is the CAT that made me pick up this series again after skipping the past few books. 

This one is the ELEVENTH in the series. I think series books are great for growing readers. I do. Nothing better than sitting down with a BIG stack of books all from the same series and just binging them all with great delight and glee. That could easily be done with this series. 

This one follows the basic formula for the series except now she has a new pet.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

123. D is for Dogs (Board book)

123. Board book: D is for Dogs. Greg Paprocki. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars]

First sentence: A is for athletic. B is for barking. C is for cuddly. D is for dogs. E is for eating. F is for fluffy. G is for good. H is for helpful. 

Premise/plot: This board book celebrates dogs a to z. 

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I would have loved it even more if it was cat-themed. However, this one is delightful enough. I think the illustrations are what makes this one work well. I loved how detail the illustrations are for each letter. Plenty to look at. One could definitely slow down the pace of this read aloud by asking more questions. One question, for example, you could ask for each page is how many dogs can you find in this picture? Or what are the dog(s) doing? I definitely recommend this one for dog lovers.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

122. Board Book: Let's Put That Away!

 122. (Board book) Let's Put That Away: My First Book of Organizing. Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin. 2024. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

First sentence: All day long, we take things out and we put things away. Everything has a home! You just have to know where it is. Where do toys go? In the bins! Where do books go? On the bookshelf! 

Premise/plot: A board book concept book on tidying up. It is more about teaching kids to be responsible--at least in part--for tidying up. 

My thoughts: I never knew I needed this book. It is a simple book, in some ways. I love the question and answer format. I don't necessarily love, love, love the illustrations. However I enjoyed the text.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

119-121. Early Readers Parade

119. Pizza for Pia (Ready to read level 1) Betsy Groban. Illustrated by Allison Steinfeld. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [early reader]

First sentence:  Pia loves to eat. "Mealtime is the best time," says Pia. 

Premise/plot: Pia loves to eat. Pia's family loves to eat. The problem? Pia's family all prefer pizza and they just know that Pia loves pizza too. In this early reader, Pia says she LOVES tacos--not pizza. The solution? Baking taco shells and using pizza ingredients???

My thoughts: It is an early reader. This one is full of p's. I liked it well enough. There is an actual story.

120. Nothing Fits a Dinosaur.  (ready to read level 1) Jonathan Fenske. 2021. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [early reader, bath time]

First sentence: "No more playtime," says my momma. "Take a bath. Put on pajamas. And please, tonight, no dino drama." 

Premise/plot: Will there be dino drama? YES. Of course. In this one a little boy and his dino alter ego get into a little trouble. Don't you know that NOTHING fits a dinosaur, so he'll just have to be FREE (without clothes). "These clothes shall feel my dino-might! Roar! I shed them with a mega roar!"

 My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. Not a big surprise since I am a fan of Jonathan Fenske. Perhaps a slight surprise since I don't really love dinosaurs. However, this one is ALL about imagination. This little boy is a hoot. However, as all hoots are, he is difficult to parent perhaps.

121. Nothing Scares a Dinosaur. (Ready to read level 1). Jonathan Fenske. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, bedtime, imagination] [4 stars]

First sentence: My bath is done. My books are read. I brush my teeth. I climb in bed. My momma comes to tuck me in. She pulls the covers to my chin. 

Premise/plot: Nothing Scares a Dinosaur is a sequel to Nothing Fits a Dinosaur. Though these were published years apart--2021 and 2024--I imagine them taking place the same night. (Though, of course, it could be the next night.) The book series stars a little boy who loves to pretend to be a dinosaur. In the first book, this DINOSAUR had trouble getting ready for bed because he still wanted to play, play, play. In this next book, he is finally in bed, but will he fall asleep easily? NOTHING SCARES A DINOSAUR except perhaps his momma when she's stern.

My thoughts: I really LOVE both books. I'm so on the fence if they should be a four star or a five star. Fenske's early readers are, in my opinion, so much better than all the rest. These are entertaining, relatable, fun stories. I love the rhythm and rhyme. (Not a big surprise since Fenske is a great writer). I love how both books end!

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

118. Be More Cat

118. [Board book] Be More Cat. Seb Davey. 2024. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] 

First sentence: Be more cat and play outside. Feel the sunshine on your face! Be more cat and watch the world go by. Stop and go with the slow! Be more cat and stretch. Stretch your body and your smile!

Premise/plot: Would you be happier by being more cat? Maybe. Maybe not. This board book for the youngest cat lovers encourages little ones to be more cat. (Warning there are TOE beans). Some spreads are more actual cat-like than others. Some cats are just stand-ins for humans, obviously. The book is fairly generic in its pawsitive advice.

My thoughts: The illustrations are adorable. I love, love, love, love, love cats. That being said, the text is fairly cheesy. (Perhaps just as a cat would have it.) If I didn't love cats so much, this one might be too cheeseful to recommend. It is generic advice for good vibes.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

117. I Really, Really Don't Like Parties

117. I Really, Really Don't Like Parties. Angie Morgan. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] 4 stars]

First sentence: One day, after school, Dora found an envelope in the bottom of her book bag. 

Premise/plot: Dora, our heroine, is invited to a classmate's birthday party. The problem? Dora really, really does not like--not even a little bit--parties. To the party she goes--reluctantly--at the insistence of her mother. Guess what, she still doesn't like parties, however, she learns that there's at least one other kid who absolutely does NOT like parties either. 

My thoughts: Dora is relatable. As is Tom. I like the story for the most part, I do. I don't love, love, love the illustrations. The style isn't my favorite or best. But the story does make up for it. Dora was a great character and perhaps a kindred spirit.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

116. The Dictionary Story

116. The Dictionary Story. Oliver Jeffers. Illustrated by Sam Winston. 2024. 56 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [picture book]

First sentence:  Most of the time, all the books knew what they were about. But there was one book who was never quite sure of herself. The dictionary had all the words that had ever been read, which meant she could say all the things that could EVER BE SAID. Yet, when you read her pages from FIRST to LAST, she didn't tell a story like all the other books.

Premise/plot: The Dictionary is envious that all the other books in the library tell a story while she does not. She decides to bring the words within to life. And so it begins...

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this quirky, fun, celebratory story. The words that are brought to life make for a lively read. The plot is chaotic and silly, yet in a delightful way--at least for me. I enjoyed the resolution. I think this one has potential for readers of multiple ages. I do think young readers could write stories of their own inspired by this one. The possibilities for new stories are endless since the dictionary is vast. It is a creative story book.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

115. Catside Up, Catside Down

Catside Up, Catside Down. Anna Hrachovec. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, concept book] [5 stars]

First sentence: Catside up,
catside down,
cat on a turntable, spinning around.
Under a piano,
over the moon,
swept high and away
by a cat-shaped balloon.
Inside a sock,
surrounding a pie,
lolling about on some catnip nearby.

Premise/plot: Catside Up, Catside down is a book of prepositions. It is a concept book--technically, definitely. I mean there is a grammar lesson there for elementary-aged students. (Or for readers of all ages who need a bit of a refresher course). But it is also a super-adorable cat-themed, arts-and-craft themed picture book for readers of all ages to enjoy. The illustrations--are PRECIOUS, ADORABLE, SWEET, AMAZING.

My thoughts: I loved this one so much. I love, love, love, love, love all the crafted items. The cover is adorable--no doubt, no question--but each page only gets better and better. I love the art. I love the narration. I love the concept-lesson. I love the rhyming.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

114. The Fastest Drummer

114. The Fastest Drummer: Clap Your Hands for Viola Smith. Dean Robbins. Illustrated by Susanna Chapman. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Nonfiction picture book] [5 stars]

First sentence: Five girls played together in the Smith Sisters Orchestra. Irene on trombone. Erma on vibraphone. Edwina on trumpet. Mildred on violin. Lila on saxophone. Was there a spot for the sixth sister, Viola? Almost every instrument was taken...except for the drums. 

Premise/plot: The Fastest Drummer is a nonfiction picture book biography of Viola Smith. It celebrates music, jazz, women's history, and history-history. 

My thoughts: I have a weakness for music-related picture books, especially jazz-focused picture books. (I blame Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb one of the greatest early readers ever.) This one is a biography of a musician, a drummer, Viola Smith. I had not heard of Viola Smith, however, famous drummers--particularly jazz drummers--aren't something I'm particularly familiar with at all.  

What I LOVED about this one was the narrative. The storytelling AND in particular the descriptive word choices make for a super rhythmic read aloud. I loved, loved, loved how the narrative combines with the illustrations to make for a fantastic read.

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers