52. Zathura

52. Zathura. Chris Van Allsburg. 2002. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, fantasy]

First sentence: "Mom!" Danny Budwing yelled. "Mom!" Walter and Danny's mother stopped at her sons' bedroom door.

Premise/plot: Walter and Danny are brothers who fight and bicker and fuss all the time, ALL the time. But will a board game bring them together????

My thoughts: I watched the movie adaptation, Zathura. I loved it. I had never read the picture book. I've never seen Jumanji. I had low expectations for the movie, but, I found it GREAT fun. Perhaps if I'd had extremely high expectations and a preconceived notion of what it should be and should not be, I would have felt differently.

This picture book is much more "basic" and "contained" than the movie. The game is still adventurous but it doesn't seem SO intensely dangerously dramatic and a fight for survival. And the ending is quite different.

I personally love the movie more. But I can see how the book is creative and could work for young readers.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

51. Rebecca the White House Raccoon

51. Rebecca the White House Raccoon. April Genevieve Tucholke. Illustrated by Dave Szalay. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, based on a true story]

First sentence: The President was supposed to eat me. I was packed into a slatted box on a sunny November day in 1926 and shipped to the White House with a note that said: EAT ME FOR DINNER.

Premise/plot: Rebecca, a raccoon, the White House raccoon, narrates this historical picture book based on a true story. Is Rebecca reliable narrator? Maybe. Maybe not. But according to Rebecca she was the FAVORITE pet of the President and First Lady. But readers do learn about other pets as well. Pets that may have been slightly less problematic. Many of these 'pets' were a bit 'wild' in addition to the more traditional pets.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I definitely learned new things while reading it. It's good to have a "political" picture book that isn't divisive. There's plenty of action in this story as well! Overall, I think it would be a fun book to share with young readers.

Text: 4 out of 5 stars
Illustrations: 5 out of 5 stars
Total: 9 out of 10 stars



© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

50. Next Door There Is a Dinosaur

50. Next Door There Is a Dinosaur. Saskia Gwinn. Illustrated by Leanne Coelho. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Next door there is a dinosaur. I saw its sneaky, scaly claw. It whipped out quick, then shut the door of Mrs. Shaw's at eighty-four.

Premise/plot: A young boy is CONVINCED that the next door neighbor, Mrs. Shaw, HAS a dinosaur. Day after day after day, he tries to convince his family that it is TRUE. He's collecting all the evidence. Finally he decides he just has to KNOW for sure, for sure. So he goes and asks her directly.....

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one. It celebrates the imagination, or does it?!?! Maybe there are dinosaurs attending parties in your neighborhood! I love the rhyming. It is just SO much fun.

I climbed our tall green sycamore.
You'll never guess the THING I saw,
sitting in the yard next door...
...a POO so big it blocked the door!
It smelled so bad that I am SURE
the pooper was a dinosaur.
And not a friendly herbivore!
NO, a whiffy, sniffy CARNIVORE!





© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

48-49. Two more Jonathan Fenske Books

48. Candy Corn Christmas. Jonathan Fenske. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, Christmas, Halloween]

First sentence: Halloween had come and gone. But one confection lingered on, and pantry shelves became the haunts of candy corn that no one wants. They were the candy time forgot. They did not mold. They did not rot. They sat around the pumpkin pail, feeling bored and kind of stale.

Premise/plot: Candy Corn discovers Christmas. Essentially that is the premise of this rhyming picture book by Jonathan Fenske. But what will the Christmas candy (and decorations and like) think of having candy corn hanging around? And what will the jolly old man himself think of candy corn?

My thoughts: I have a love/hate relationship with the rhyming. On the one hand, Fenske does GREAT on some stanzas!!!! I really enjoy some verses. On the other hand, some just didn't work for me. If all verses were mediocre, then I wouldn't be torn. I do think it's a fun, silly concept. It will work as a read aloud, most likely. Particularly as a transition from Halloween to Christmas.





49. A Unicorn, A Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book. Jonathan Fenske. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture books, animal fantasy, meta fiction]

First sentence: A unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark walk into a book. Ahem! I said, a unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark walk into a book!

Premise/plot: The author--narrator--wants to make the best book ever. So, naturally, of course, he thinks that if he has a unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark star together in a picture book then it will be a success, a sure thing. But the book doesn't have "action" at least until another character is introduced.

My thoughts: The book is silly and a bit ridiculous. I haven't decided if this is a "breaks the fourth wall" example or not. I am almost positive it is. Since the book and writing process is being discussed with you the reader. I don't love it. But I also don't hate it. I mean I've read more successful attempts of this. I do think that kids might enjoy it, maybe. And perhaps teachers could encourage students to write their own stories or follow story prompts. Or to discuss predictions. What do you think will happen next?

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

46-47. Two Peek-a-Clue Board Books

46. Peek-a-Clue: Animals at Home. Gideon Sterer. Illustrated by Marcos Farina. 2026. 38 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board books]

First sentence: I purr and I slink. I like to eat fish. My scratchy pink tongue laps milk from a dish. My ears are quite pointy. I lie in your lap. The thing I love most...is taking a nap! Who am I?

Premise/plot: Peek-a-Clue: Animals At Home is a board book with unique cut-outs that 'reveal' the mystery animal. In this one there are three mystery animals to be revealed--one page, one clue at a time. The text and the illustrations both contain clues.

My thoughts: I enjoyed the cut-outs! The premise isn't particularly unique, but, the cut-outs are a bit more unique. I definitely would recommend to little ones.

47. Peek-a-Clue: Safari Animals (An Animal Guessing Game) Gideon Sterer. Illustrated by Marcos Farina. 2026. 38 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board books]

First sentence: I have a long snout full of teeth that go chomp! My spiky green tail sweeps through the swamp. My legs are quite little and so are my feet. Watch out, you fishes....I like to eat! Who am I?

Premise/plot: Peek-a-Clue: Safari Animals is a board book with unique cut-outs that 'reveal' the mystery animal. In this one there are three mystery animals to be revealed--one page, one clue at a time. The text and the illustrations both contain clues.

My thoughts: I enjoyed the cut-outs! The premise isn't particularly unique, but, the cut-outs are a bit more unique. I definitely would recommend to little ones.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers