78. The Blue Stealer

The Blue Stealer (Jack Russell Dog Detective #9) Darrel and Sally Odgers. 2009. 80 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: "There's a new dog in town," grumbled Foxie. 

Premise/plot: Jack Russell and his sprat, Preacher, are back working another case in The Blue Stealer. The mystery in this one involves both dogs and humans. A burglar is making the rounds in Doggeroo, and his accomplice is a dog. Can Jack and his friends bring these criminals to justice with a little help from their humans?

Meanwhile, it seems Jack Russell's human, Sarge, has fallen in love and is getting married...

My thoughts: I really LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. The mystery had more substance than previous mysteries in this series. (Some books the mysteries are so light and fluffy that they hardly qualify as mysteries.) I really loved all the dogs working together. And Preacher and Jack together are so super adorable. I loved the nose maps, the glossary, and the Jack's Facts.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

61. Finn Throws a Fit

Finn Throws a Fit! David Elliott. Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering. 2009. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Finn likes peaches. Usually. But today, Finn doesn't like peaches. Today, Finn doesn't like anything. Today, Finn is cranky. Anything could happen.

Premise/plot: Finn is having a bad day. Perhaps even a terrible, horrible one. No one knows why. Least of all his parents. Elliott writes to parents, and for parents in this one. The narrative is descriptive and practically perfect in every way.

Thunder in the nursery! Lightning in the kitchen!

He cries. The house floods.

He kicks. An earthquake shakes the world.

But I think my absolute favorite part is:

The FIT goes on and on. It lasts until it doesn't.

My thoughts: I love, love, love, LOVE this one. Who hasn't met a Finn? Who hasn't seen a Finn in action? (I know I've seen Finn in a couple of restaurants.) I love the narrative. I love the descriptions. I love how true-to-life it is. I love how it captures the wild, fierceness of emotions. Some times emotions do RAGE out of control. I love how quotable it is. So much can be communicated by these two simple sentences: "Finn likes peaches. Usually;" and "It lasts until it doesn't."

 This has to be one of my all-time favorite, favorite, favorite books. I think it perfectly captures what it feels like to be BOTH a parent and a child. I think you could easily relate to both at the exact same time.

I do think it captures how heavy and overwhelming emotions can be at times. I think children definitely need to learn from very young age how to deal with--in a healthy way--experiencing all sorts of emotions.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Bow-Wow 12 Months Running

Bow-Wow 12 Months Running. Mark Newgarden. Illustrated by Megan Montague Cash. 2009. 18 pages. [Source: Library]

 First sentence: January. February. March. April. May. June.

Premise/plot: Bow-Wow stars in this board book doubling as a concept book. The text is simply the twelve months of the years. The illustrations show Bow-Wow in each month.

My thoughts: Quite a lot is communicated about the months of the year through the illustrations. The book--like the others in the series--is simple yet more often than not effective. The illustrations are bright, bold, and expressive.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Bow-Wow's Colorful Life

Bow-Wow's Colorful Life. Mark Newgarden. Illustrated by Megan Montague Cash. 2009. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 18 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Red! Orange! Yellow! Green!

Premise/plot: Bow-Wow is the star of a board book series. Each board book "teaches" a concept. This one teaches colors. Bow-Wow is tugging the socks off his human. It's a silly, super-simple story that I found delightful.

My thoughts: I think this one is my favorite Bow-Wow story. I love the ending. It's predictable--since Bow-Wow is a dog--but fun too.

Have you read the Bow-Wow series? Which one is your favorite?  

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Composer is Dead

The Composer is Dead. Lemony Snicket. Illustrated by Carson Ellis. Music by Nathaniel Stookey. 2009. HarperCollins. 36 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The composer is dead. "Composer" is a word which here means "a person who sits in a room, muttering and humming and figuring out what notes the orchestra is going to play." This is called composing. But last night, the Composer was not muttering. He was not humming. He was not moving, or even breathing. This is called decomposing.

Premise/plot: An investigator has been called in to investigate the 'mysterious' death of the composer. WHO murdered the composer and why? Is the murderer to be found in the strings? the brass? the woodwinds? the percussion section?

"I swear on my own intelligence and good looks; I will solve this terrible crime against humanity and/or classical music."

My thoughts: I love, love, LOVE this one. I love the strong narrative voice. The writing is fun and clever. The text is LIVELY.

The Violins answered first, of course. The violin section is divided into the First Violins, who have the trickier parts to play, and the Second Violins, who are more fun at parties. "We were performing a waltz," said the Violins. We played graceful melodies so the ladies and gentlemen could spin around and around and around until they felt dizzy and somewhat nauseous. This kept us busy all night. AHA the Inspector cried, making a note in his notebook. "Perhaps you murdered the Composer for making you play so much." "Don't be ridiculous!" the Violins said. "Violins are the stars of any orchestra. If we killed the Composer, we would have to find work at square dances or in romantic restaurants."  

It is packed with plenty of information about orchestras. Yet at its heart is a dramatic--perhaps melodramatic--STORY.

I love the audio book included with the book. Together the music and the book create a lovely and dark atmosphere. It is an invitation to play and create.

I also love that it's a MYSTERY. So many detective/mystery stereotypes are in play in the narrative. If you love that genre then this one is just giddy-making.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Music: 5 out of 5
Total: 13 out of 15

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren. 2009. Disney. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It is when we are most lost that we sometimes find our truest friends. This is the story of Snow White.

Premise/plot: Cynthia Rylant beautifully retells the fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It feels silly--beyond silly--to summarize the plot of so familiar a tale. Snow White is forced to take flight after her wicked stepmother tries to have her killed. She finds refuge--even happiness--in the home of the seven dwarfs. She loves them; they love her. But when the magic mirror reveals Snow White is still alive, well, her life is in danger once more. Will the queen's jealousy ever end? Will Snow White get her happily ever ending?

 My thoughts: I LOVED this one. I loved the writing. Rylant did a beautiful job with the story.

But those with an evil heart seem to have a talent for destroying anything beautiful which is about to bloom. So it was that one day the Queen consulted the Magic Mirror, and Snow White's life was forever changed.

 The dwarfs went inside and found Snow White asleep. When she awoke, Snow White told them her story. By the end of the telling, they loved her. How could they not? The Dwarfs had not known gentleness and beauty for a very long time.

Many stories in life have a happy ending, and this is one of them.

I also loved the illustrations by Gustaf Tenggren. Tenggren worked at Disney from 1936 to 1939. The films he worked on include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and Bambi. But he didn't just work at Disney. He illustrated a LOT of children's books. Books such as The Poky Little Puppy, The Shy Little Kitten, The Saggy Baggy Elephant, The Tawny, Scrawny Lion, Bedtime Stories, Farm Stories, and King Arthur and the Knights Around the Round Table. You can read more about his work here: http://www.gustaftenggren.com/tenggren/default.asp

I didn't grow up watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It wasn't released on VHS until I was in high school. (The Disney Wiki says October 1994. That sounds about right!) But I did grow up listening to the soundtrack on record. I do have favorites. I love and adore the Silly Song and the Dwarf's Washing Song. And then there's One Song.

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


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mr. Putter and Tabby Spill The Beans

Mr. Putter and Tabby Spill the Beans (Mr. Putter and Tabby #18) Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2009. 44 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, lived next door to Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke. They were all good friends and neighbors. They liked doing things together. They took long walks. They had tea. And sometimes they tried new things. The new things sometimes worked out. And sometimes they didn't.

Premise/plot: The NEW thing in Mr. Putter and Tabby Spill the Beans is a cooking class. It is Mrs. Teaberry's idea. The cooking class is ONE HUNDRED DIFFERENT WAYS TO COOK BEANS. Mr. Putter doesn't want to know more than one way, and that might be stretching the truth. What he wants is an ice cream soda. The adventure really only happens because they bring Tabby and Zeke with them to class...

My thoughts: Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry are DELIGHTFUL characters. I love them both. I'm so glad they're such good friends and neighbors. I also really LOVE their pets Zeke and Tabby. They can always be counted on for a good laugh. There is JOY to be had in this early chapter book series by Cynthia Rylant.


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Where Teddy Bears Come From

Where Teddy Bears Come From. Mark Burgess. Illustrated by Russell Ayto. 2009. Peachtree Press. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: In the middle of a deep, dark forest, all the creatures were fast asleep except for a little gray wolf, who tossed and turned and couldn't sleep a wink.

Premise/plot: Little Wolf is having trouble sleeping. He thinks he may have a solution: a teddy bear. But WHERE DO TEDDY BEARS COME FROM?! He asks his mother first. But when she doesn't know he's off on a quest in the deep, dark forest to ask just about everyone his question. Who will know the answer?!

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I loved all the fairy tale twists and turns. Little Wolf asks The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, and others his all-important question. Will Little Wolf get his teddy bear?!

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

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Plot Chickens

The Plot Chickens. Mary Jane Auch. Illustrated by Herm Auch. 2009. Holiday House. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Henrietta loved to read. Soon she had read every book on the farm a dozen times, so she went to town to find more. When she spotted people carrying books out of the library, she went inside to wait in line. When it was Henrietta's turn, the librarian said, "We have nothing for chickens here. Try the feed store." Frustrated, Henrietta clucked at the top of her lungs: BUK, BUK, BUK!" "Well, why didn't you say so?" The librarian handed her three books.

Premise/plot: Henrietta the hen loves, loves, loves to read. But one day she decides that she might like to write as well. She's never written a book before, but, with a little help from a book about writing, she begins the long writing process. Writing has rules, and, she is determined to follow them. Will this mean her book gets published? that her book is favorably reviewed? placed on library shelves? The answer may just surprise you!

My thoughts: I really loved this one. I loved seeing Henrietta and the other hens (her aunts mainly) work together in the writing process. I loved seeing the actual finished story. But even more I loved how the book captured the process of writing. Here are the rules she sets out to follow:

1) You need a main character.
2) You need to hatch a plot.
3) Give your main character a problem.
4) Develop your plot by asking, "What if?"
5) Write what you know.
6) Build suspense.
7) Make your story come alive by using all five senses.
8) The main character must solve her (or his) own problem.

As you can see, this isn't bad advice! The book has humor as well. For example, the publisher who rejects the story is named Hunter Fox. And the reviewer from Corn Book who hated her review was named Noah Lyke. There is plenty of pun-based humor as well.

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

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Cat Dreams

Cat Dreams. Ursula K. Le Guin. Illustrated by S.D. Schindler. 2009. Scholastic. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: It's time to run. I love to leap. But now I think I'll go to sleep.

Premise/plot: It's nap time. What is this cat dreaming of?! Readers find out in this rhyming book that may leave little cat lovers quite satisfied.

My thoughts: I like this one. I do. I'm torn between "like" and "love," however. I love, love, love the cover. I think it says READ ME NOW. I love the illustrations throughout the book. Perhaps not as much as the cover itself, but they are really quite good. The text, I enjoyed it. But. I'm not sure I loved it on its own. I think cat lovers will enjoy this one.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10
© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Jesus Storybook Bible

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Deluxe Edition. Sally Lloyd-Jones. 2009. Zonderkidz. 352 pages.

God wrote, "I love you" -- he wrote it in the sky, and on the earth, and under the sea. He wrote his message everywhere! Because God created everything in his world to reflect him like a mirror -- to show us what he is like, to help us to know him, to make our hearts sing.

The way a kitten chases her tail. The way red poppies grow wild. The way a dolphin swims.

And God put it into words, too, and wrote it in a book called "the Bible."

Now some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn't do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what he has done.

It had me at hello from the very first story or chapter--appropriately titled The Story and The Song--in which readers get introduced to God, to the Bible, to the Gospel.

The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne -- everything -- to rescue the one he loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is -- it's true. There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle -- the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.

And this is no ordinary baby. This is the Child upon whom everything would depend. This is the Child who would one day -- but wait. Our story starts where all good stories start. Right at the very beginning...

I honestly didn't know what to expect from this one. I've seen other Bible story books. I've read other Bible story books. Some I remember from my childhood. Others I've come across as an adult. So what makes this one special? I think what makes this one work--really work--is how Sally Lloyd-Jones has every story whisper His name. Her ability to connect each story with the Big Story, keeps everything in perspective, keeps everything connected and relevant. It also helps that she's a good storyteller! She has a definite way with words! She keeps the stories on a child's level, but yet, the stories are beautifully and compellingly told.

From "God to the Rescue!"

So Moses went to Pharaoh.

"Pharaoh," Moses began, "God says -- "

"God?" said Pharaoh. "Never heard of him."

Moses kept going. "God says, let his people go free."

"Why should I?" Pharaoh said. "Don't want to. WON'T!" So he didn't.

But God gave Pharaoh ten warnings called plagues. (86)

and

God's people would always remember this great rescue and call it "Passover." But an even Greater Rescue was coming.

Many years later, God was going to do it again. He was going to come down once more to rescue his people. But this time God was going to set them free forever and ever. (91)

From "God's Messenger"

God had a job for Jonah. But Jonah didn't want it.

"Go to Nineveh," God said, "And tell your worst enemies that I love them."
"No!" said Jonah. "Those are bad people doing bad things!"
"Exactly," said God. "They have run far away from me. But I can't stop loving them. I will give them a new start. I will forgive them."
"NO!" said Jonah. "They don't deserve it!" (160)

Many years later, God was going to send another Messenger with the same wonderful message. Like Jonah, he would spend three days in utter darkness.

But this messenger would be God's Own Son. He would be called "The Word" because he himself would be God's Message. God's Message translated into our own language. Everything God wanted to say to the whole world -- in a Person. (169)

I could almost pick out a passage to highlight from each and every story because the book is really just that good.

One of my favorite, favorite stories is "Operation 'No More Tears!'" which draws from Isaiah 9, 11, 40, 50, 53, 55, and 60.

Isaiah has always, always been a favorite book of mine. And to see it so wonderfully, so artistically translated into a story that little ones can understand, well, it does my heart good! The story may be concise, but it's faithful to the spirit of the message.

There are twenty-one stories from the Old Testament. And twenty-three stories from the New Testament.

The illustrations are by Jago. I really liked the illustrations. I wasn't sure about them at first. But as I read the book, I began to like them more and more.

This one is available in two editions. One is the deluxe edition. And the other is the regular (no-bells-or-whistles) edition. What does the deluxe edition offer that makes it worth the price difference? It offers the book as an audio book. Three CDs narrated by David Suchet. You'll have to decide for yourself if the audio book would be a great asset to your family's library. (Personally, I like the audio book. And I would recommend it.) But either book would be a good choice.

(Both the illustrator and the narrator are from England.)

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Curious Garden

The Curious Garden. Peter Brown. 2009. Little, Brown. 40 pages.

There once was a city without gardens or trees or greenery of any kind. Most people spent their time indoors. As you can imagine, it was a very dreary place.
However, there was one boy who loved being outside. Even on drizzly days, while everyone else stayed inside, you could always find Liam happily splashing through his neighborhood.
It was on one such morning that Liam made several surprising discoveries.

Can a garden thrive in the city? Can a garden grow in unforgotten places and spaces? Can a little boy start a love-nature movement and change the landscape of an entire city? You might enjoy reading Peter Brown's The Curious Garden. It is about a little boy who "discovers" wildflowers and other plants growing on an abandoned railroad track. He decides that he wants to make this place his own--he wants to be the gardener, the caretaker, of this little green space. Especially since it's such a contrast to the drab gray environment of the city. The book follows this "garden" through several seasons.

I was not a big fan of this one. But I think that could be just me.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Baby Nose to Baby Toes

Baby Nose to Baby Toes. Vicky Ceelen. 2009. Random House. 24 pages.


Tippy-top of baby's head.
Fuzzy little duckling's head.
Bright-eyed baby looks at you.
Bright-eyed fawn is peeping too.
Cranky, crying baby howls.
Grumpy, grouchy lion cub growls.

Baby Nose to Baby Toes is the follow-up to Baby! Baby! Both board books feature photographs of babies and animals. These photographs are placed side-by-side. The photographs are meant to complement one another. This second book features rhyming text. (The first book--at least the edition I had was wordless. Though it still puzzles me that in the publisher description online it said it paired photographs with simple text.) Some of these pairs worked better than others. For example, I liked the saggy, baggy elephant legs paired with wrinkly, crinkly baby thighs.

Overall, I thought the first book was cuter. Some of the pairs in this second one  I just didn't get--or didn't like. For example, the last pair which shows a sleeping baby and buggy-eyed frog. (Those pictures--in my opinion--had nothing to do with one another. Baby eyes--neither awake or asleep--don't look slimy, froggy, or buggy-eyed.)

If you are looking for board books with photographs, I'd recommend All About Me! A Baby's Guide to Babies, Margaret Miller's Baby Faces, Margaret Miller's I Love Colors, Margaret Miller's Baby Food, and Margaret Miller's What's On My Head?

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Gingerbread Pirates

The Gingerbread Pirates. Kristin Kladstrup. Illustrated by Matt Tavares. 2009. Candlewick. 32 pages.


It was Christmas Eve, and Jim and his mother were making gingerbread men. "Let's make a pirate crew," said Jim. And so they did.
The captain had a gingerbread cutlass and a peg leg made from a toothpick. Jim loved him best of all. 
"You'd better leave some pirates out for Santa Claus to eat," said his mother.
"Not Captain Cookie!" said Jim.

 This one definitely has potential to please. While it didn't quite work for me--at least not completely--it had its moments. "Captain Cookie" stars in this one. He may be safe--by Jim's request--but his crew is not. For while he is upstairs with a sleeping Jim. His "men" (his "crew) are downstairs in a cookie jar awaiting Santa's arrival. Can Captain Cookie find a way to save his crew? Can he get the other cookies out of the jar and to safety before Santa comes?

I liked the attention to detail. Especially in the illustrations. It's a creative story with a true dilemma. (Is any cookie EVER safe?) But the ending, well, it didn't quite work for me. For it appears that Santa grants them all safety--giving them a pirate ship--but the last page reveals an empty plate full of crumbs. And the crew of Jim's new pirate ship? Well, they don't look like cookies. But I could COMPLETELY be misreading this one. (The Publishers Weekly review reads like Santa is very friendly. And Kirkus Reviews says that "Christmas magic" has transformed the cookies into toys. So maybe there is hope.)

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Christmas Magic

The Christmas Magic. Lauren Thompson. Illustrated by Jon J. Muth. 2009. Scholastic. 40 pages.

Far, far north, where the reindeer are, there is a snug little house with a bright red door. And in that house lives Santa Claus. 
Every year, just when the nights are longest and the stars shine brightest, Santa feels a tingling in his whiskers.
Then he knows that the Christmas magic will soon be here.

The Christmas Magic is a simple holiday story. Readers meet a Santa that isn't surrounded by elves. A Santa that doesn't have a bustling workshop. (Though I couldn't help wondering if Santa was terribly lonely living so secluded, so all on his own.) Readers are told of Santa's love for children--how he knows them all by name, how love is his only motivation. It was unexpected in a way--refreshing almost--to meet Santa in this way.

I liked it. It was simple and sweet.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Best Friends and Drama Queens (#3)

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Best Friends and Drama Queens. Meg Cabot. 2009. Scholastic. 224 pages.

The best part about the holidays is showing all the cool stuff you got to your friends. This is a rule.

Allie Finkle is back for her third adventure. In the second, Allie "tamed" Rosemary--the girl who was bullying her. In the third, Allie is up for an even bigger challenge. Cheyenne. The new girl from Canada who LOVES to boss the whole class around--at least at lunch and recess. Allie, Erica, Caroline, Sophie, and Rosemary are having none of it. At least at first. They don't want to be told that they "have" to chase boys around at recess and try to kiss them. They don't want to "have" to "go with" a boy or face the consequences--being called immature babies. But. The stress of dealing with Cheyenne is putting stress on other friendships. Can Allie and her friends "survive" this new bully?

I love Allie Finkle. I do. I love her family--her two brothers Mark and Kevin, her mom, her dad, her Uncle Jay. I love her friends. I love how "real" these stories seem. How authentically kid-like Allie's narrative sounds. I am curious about Allie's school, however, how relaxed it seems. How the kids get to go home every day for lunch. How they have morning recess and afternoon recess. How Allie talks about having time--at school--to read The Boxcar Children books in the classroom library. How the book doesn't really ever mention homework. (Of course, that doesn't mean that Allie doesn't do homework or study or take tests. But it just seems strange how stress-free this fourth-grade is.)

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star

Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star. Petr Horacek. 2009. Candlewick. 32 pages.

It was Christmas Eve. Suzy Goose and her friends were gathered around the tree. It was beautiful. But it was missing one thing. "It needs a star on top," honked Suzy. "Just like that bright one in the sky. I will get it."

Suzy is one determined goose. When she decides that the Christmas tree needs to be topped with a star--even a star from the sky--she'll do anything and everything to do it. But can a goose--even a determined goose--bring a star down from the sky? Will this one end in disappointment? Or will Suzy's friends have a way of cheering her up after all?!

I liked this one. I liked the illustrations best of all. They were so well done. I just loved looking at each spread! Of course, I liked the story too! I liked meeting Suzy. She was very spirited, very determined! I would definitely recommend this one.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens. Illustrated by Brett Helquist. 2009. HarperCollins. 40 pages.

Marley was dead. There was no doubt whatever that Old Marley was dead as a doornail. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge.

A picture book adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It is abbreviated. In places it felt rushed--even more rushed than several of the cartoon adaptations--but it was able to keep the flavor of the original in a way most cartoon adaptations aren't. So it wasn't a bad read--just an incomplete one--for this adult reader.

I loved the illustrations. It's illustrated by Brett Helquist. And he does a great job with Scrooge! I liked this one. I would recommend it.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Runaway Mummy

The Runaway Mummy: A Petrifying Parody. Michael Rex. 2009. Penguin. 32 pages.

Once there was a little mummy who wanted to run away.
"If you run away," said Mother Mummy, "I will get you! For you are my rotten little mummy!"
"If you try to get me," said the little mummy, "I will turn into a serpent that lurks at the bottom of the sea."
"If you turn into a serpent," said Mother Mummy, "I will become a sea monster that will wrap around you and never let go."

The Runaway Mummy is a parody of The Runaway Bunny. It is one of three picture book parodies by Michael Rex. The others include Goodnight Goon and Furious George Goes Bananas.

I enjoyed this one! I thought Rex did a great job.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed. Mo Willems. 2009. Hyperion. 40 pages.

There is so much to learn about the fascinating little creatures known as naked mole rats. But, for this story, you only need to know three things: 
1. They are a little bit rat.
2. They are a little bit mole.
3. They are all naked.
Well, they were, with one exception...

Wilbur, the star of Naked Mole Rat is different from all the other naked mole rats. He LOVES to wear clothes. He LOVES to get dressed up. Everyone tells him time and time again that NAKED MOLE RATS DON'T WEAR CLOTHES. They even try to get Grand-pah--the oldest, greatest, and most naked naked mole rat ever--to talk to him, to try to change him. But Wilbur doesn't listen. In fact, he asks a question. Two simple words that silences even the wisest among them, Why not? Is there an answer that works? An answer that will convince? Or will Wilbur show everyone that there are exceptions to every "rule"?

I enjoyed Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed. It was fun. I liked it. Have you read this one? What did you think?

© Becky Laney of Young Readers