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

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

35. Bubba and Beau Best Friends

Bubba and Beau, Best Friends. Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2002. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: Meet Bubba. Bubba is the son of Big Bubba and Mama Pearl. Right after Bubba was born, Mama Pearl wrapped him in his soft pink blankie and whispered into both of his soft pink ears, "I love you, Bubba Junior." She sighed. He was the perfect little Bubba.

Premise/plot: Bubba (the baby) and Beau (the puppy) are BEST friends. This picture book is written in small chapters. Each chapter written to perfection to highlight the awesomeness of Bubba, Beau, and their blanket. There are many good and happy days in Bubbaville, but this picture book chooses to include a very SAD day in Bubbaville as well. What will happen when Mama Pearl dares to WASH the blanket?!?!

My thoughts: Bubba and Beau, Best Friends has to be one of my absolute favorite, favorite, favorite picture books. It is perfectly perfect I tell you. I love the setting. (It is set in Texas.) I love the characters. I love the illustrations. (Now when I see Arthur Howard I think Mr. Putter and Tabby.) But most of all I love the words--the narrative flavor and flow.

One of my favorite quotes:

It didn't take long for Bubba and Beau to become best friends. For one thing, they both went around on all fours. They were both keen on chewing. Neither one was house-trained. And they could howl to beat the band. They also had a mutual affection for MUD. And a mutual disdain for soap. Sister, those two got along.

Honestly, I could quote the whole book. That's how much I love it. The best books become part of the fabric of our lives, become a part of ourselves. Even though I was an adult in 2002--in library school to be exact--this book is part of me. 

ETA: There was a short period of time last year when I thought I lost my copy of Bubba and Beau Best Friends. And let me tell you IT WAS A SAD DAY IN BUBBAVILLE. Fortunately, I found it and all was right with the world again. 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

All You Need For A Snowman

All You Need for a Snowman. Alice Schertle. Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee. 2002/2019. 28 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: One small snowflake fluttering down—that’s all you need for a snowman. EXCEPT two more snowflakes...three flakes...four...five...six...seven thousand...eight million more...Billions of snowflakes piled in a mound, pat them and pack them and roll them around into one big ball.

Premise/plot: Do you know what it takes to build a snowman?!?! In this rhythmic poem, little ones learn exactly what is involved in the building of a snowman. At least according to the author Alice Schertle. In truth snowmen like snowflakes can be very unique.

My thoughts: I definitely liked this one. It is a cute wintry read aloud to share with little ones. It was originally published as a picture book in 2002. It is newly published as a board book.

Text: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Total: 7/10

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Case of the Sleepy Sloth

The Case of the Sleepy Sloth. (The High Rise Private Eyes #5) Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. 2002. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Bunny and Jack liked to picnic with pizza. Jack brought the pizza, Bunny brought the pop, and they went to the docks downtown. "Now don't give the seagulls any pizza," said Bunny. "They'll just linger." "But they always look so hungry," said Jack. "That's because they are always hungry," said Bunny.

Premise/plot: While at the docks, these two private eyes stumble onto a new case. Ramon (a dog) has lost his one and only lawn chair from his houseboat. Can Bunny and Jack help him find it?

My thoughts: I like this one. I do. I enjoy the banter between Jack and Bunny.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold

Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold. (Mr. Putter and Tabby #11) Cynthia Rylant. Arthur Howard, illustrator. 2002. 44 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, loved the snow.

Premise/plot: Mr. Putter catches a cold in this early chapter book. Who will take care of him? Perhaps Mrs. Teaberry?! But she surely doesn't want to get sick herself. Good thing she's clever.

My thoughts: I like this one okay. Mr. Putter catches a cold because he goes outside without his hat. It's implied that he gets sick because of the cold, damp weather. This irritated me. You get sick because of germs--not weather. If you have low to no immune system, you might catch cold more easily. But going out without a hat would never be the root cause of a cold. Putting that aside, it is cute that Zeke takes care of Mr. Putter!

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Milly and the Macy's Parade

Milly and the Macy's Parade. Shana Corey. Illustrated by Brett Helquist. 2002. 40 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: It was 1924, Milly's first year in America, and all over New York City people were hustling and bustling about getting ready for the holidays.

Premise/plot: Milly's father works at Macy's. She notices that her father and some of the other immigrants are homesick. She goes to Mr. Macy himself and suggests that they should have a parade where they march and sing and dress up to remind people of the old world they've left behind. The parade is a success, and he decides they should make the parade an annual affair.

My thoughts: This origin story of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade is almost entirely fictional. The first parade was in 1924, that much is true at least. But there is no Milly. And Mr. Macy was several decades in his grave by then. The book does emphasize that this "American parade" was based on several different cultural elements. It was a variety of immigrant groups blending together--working together--that birthed this American tradition.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10
© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

If You See A Kitten

If You See A Kitten. John Butler. 2002. Peachtree. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: If you see a cuddly kitten...say, "Ahhh!" If you see a pudgy pig...say, "Peee-ew!" If you see a dozing dormouse...say, "Shhh!" If you see some slimy slugs...say, "Yuck!" If you see a pretty peacock...say, "Oooh!"

Premise/plot: John Butler's If You See A Kitten introduces animals and emotions to the very young. I suppose that is as good a premise as I can do.

My thoughts: I'll start with what I love: I REALLY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the kitten illustrations on the cover, the title page, and the second spread. Actually, the illustrations are far preferable to the text. I really enjoyed how realistic most of them were. In particular the kitten, the pig, the elephant, and the alligator.

What I liked: I think that parents or teachers could take the basic pattern of this one and have children write and draw their own books.

If you see a kitten....
If you see a puppy....
If you see a friend....
If you see a rainbow....
If you see a cookie...

What I didn't quite love: I wasn't sure why the author wanted little ones to react in specific ways to the animals. I, for one, thought the pig was nearly as adorable as the kitten. Of all the animals presented, only four had positive reactions modeled: the kitten, the dormouse, the peacock, and the elephant.

Text: 2 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Princess and the Pizza

The Princess and the Pizza. Mary Jane Auch and Herm Auch. 2002. Holiday House. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Princess Paulina needed a job. Her father had given up his throne to become a wood-carver and moved them to a humble shack in a neighboring kingdom.

Premise/plot: Princess Paulina misses princessing--doing all the things that princesses do. So she is happy to hear that Queen Zelda of Blom is seeking a 'true princess' to be the wife of her son, Prince Drupert. She feels that she needs all the luck she can get, so she tucks a piece of garlic and some fragrant herbs into her bodice. All of the princesses undergo various tests. Not all princesses pass; soon Princess Paulina is one of the few finalists remaining. What will her final test be? Could it have something to do with cooking?!

My thoughts: In this variation of The Princess and the Pea, the princess being tested accidentally discovers the best food ever--pizza. The book is definitely on the predictable side for adults. I'm guessing it would be for children as well. The title does give it away after all! But I thought this story was silly and fun. And if your little one LOVES pizza and playing princess, then you may need to give this one a chance.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Gossie and Gertie

Gossie and Gertie. Olivier Dunrea. 2002/2007. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 16 pages.

This is Gossie.
This is Gertie. 
Gossie wears bright red boots.
Gertie wears bright blue boots.
They are friends. Best friends.

I enjoyed Gossie & Gertie even more than Gossie. In this adventure, the goslings friendship is explored and defined. Readers may notice--or at least adult readers will notice--just how bossy Gossie is! How spirited. But Gertie is not one that is easily led. No, sometimes Gertie likes to have a say! And that's okay with Gossie. Especially if where he is leading her is to dinner!

The text is very fun, very playful. Proof that simple can be a very good thing! And the illustrations match that spirit well.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Gossie

Gossie. Olivier Dunrea. 2002/2007. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 16 pages.

This is Gossie, Gossie is a gosling.
A small, yellow gosling who likes to wear bright red boots.
Every day.

I enjoyed this board book very much! I found the text to be playful and fun. I liked the repetition and predictability. I liked the character of Gossie very much. I liked her personality. In just a few words, I got a clear sense of what this gosling was all about! I could tell that she was a character, if you know what I mean! Of course, the artwork has something to do with that too!

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers