164. Dragon's Merry Christmas

Dragon's Merry Christmas. Dav Pilkey. 1993. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: One cold morning Dragon went out to find the perfect Christmas tree.

Premise/plot: Dav Pilkey's Dragon stars in FOUR stories in Dragon's Merry Christmas. The stories in this Christmas-themed collection are: "The Perfect Christmas Tree," "The Candy Wreath," "Mittens," and "Merry Christmas, Dragon." The stories all take place during the holidays, but aren't directly connected to one another. (Perhaps with the exception of Mittens and Merry Christmas, Dragon.) Dragon's personality (to know him is to love him) shines through in all the stories.

My thoughts: I haven't read ALL the Dragon books. I've read three. I can honestly say that I do love and adore Dragon. My personal favorite in this collection is THE CANDY WREATH. I know people overuse the word awesome. Yet, I'm tempted to use it when gushing about this story! I think it will appeal to children and adults alike. In The Candy Wreath, Dragon makes a wreath out of candy. But when he hangs it on his wall, a few pieces fall off. OOPS. What's a dragon to do? He must eat the candy, of course!!! The following pages are PURE DELIGHT as readers learn the fate of the wreath. All the stories are enjoyable.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

17. Owen

Owen. Kevin Henkes. 1993. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture books; love objects; security blankets; animal fantasy]

First sentence: Owen had a fuzzy yellow blanket. He’d had it since he was a baby. He loved it with all his heart.

Premise/plot: Owen loves, loves, loves his blanket. Life is good—no, life is great! But school threatens to change all that. Owen’s parents are being encouraged by a nosy neighbor that Owen absolutely has to lose the blanket before he starts school. Can Owen keep his Fuzzy and start growing up into a big boy (big mouse, I suppose) too?

My thoughts: Owen is a great book. I love, love, love the writing, the story, the characters, the illustrations, just everything. It really is a timeless story. Highly recommended.

Text:5/5
Illustrations:5/5
Total:10/10

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers

A Squash and a Squeeze

A Squash and a Squeeze. Julia Donaldson. Illustrated by Axel Scheffler. 1993/2004/2017. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: A little old lady lived all by herself with a table and chairs and a jug on the shelf. A wise old man heard her grumble and grouse, "There's not enough room in my house. Wise old man, won't you help me please? My house is a squash and a squeeze."

Premise/plot: Will the 'little old lady' learn a valuable lesson when she takes advice from the 'wise old man'?!

My thoughts: I really like this one. I remember hearing a similar story on Between the Lions back in the day. I enjoyed the rhythm and rhyme of it.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Pooh: The Merry Christmas Mystery

The Merry Christmas Mystery. (Winnie the Pooh) Betty G. Birney. Illustrated by Nancy Stevenson. 1993. 24 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: It was a very snow night before Christmas.

Premise/plot: Santa gets VERY confused about where everyone lives in the hundred acre woods and delivers all his presents to the wrong people. Can Pooh and his friends make things right so that everyone has a merry Christmas?

My thoughts: This was a silly book! For little ones who love Walt Disney's Pooh, then this one is worth reading. (I've read some that weren't.) I liked the story. I liked the characters. It made me miss the Saturday morning cartoon.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Time for Bed

Time for Bed. Mem Fox. Illustrated by Jane Dyer. 1993/2010. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 28 pages.

It's time for bed, little mouse, little mouse,
Darkness is falling all over the house.
It's time for bed, little goose, little goose,
The stars are out and on the loose.
It's time for bed, little cat, little cat,
So snuggle in tight, that's right, like that.

Time for Bed is bedtime book. I like the rhythm of this one. The sweet and gentle rhymes. Each spread features a different animal. I wasn't so found of the snake. But, for the most part, I liked this one.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers