251. Board book: Bunny Rabbit Show

The Bunny Rabbit Show! Sandra Boynton. 2014/2023. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [board book]

First sentence:  Ladies and Gentlemen.
Can you hear me?
Hello?
I just want to say...
It's THE BUNNY RABBIT SHOW!
Here we go!
We are ten terrific rabbits and we like to dance and sing.
Ten terrific rabbits. We can do most anything.
We're very good at hopping. We're hopping in a row.
We're not so good at stopping. It's the BUNNY RABBIT SHOW!

Premise/plot: It's the BUNNY RABBIT SHOW. And most of it is in song...written in near perfect rhyme with so much rhythm. It's just addictive. 

My thoughts: I personally was hearing "We are the Buddy Bears." This tune worked well for about 90% of the book. It wasn't a perfect fit, obviously. But it worked well. 

This book was cute, adorable, funny. I think it would make a great silly read aloud for little ones.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

116. Cowy Cow

Board book: Cowy Cow. Chris Raschka. 2014. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to cover image]

First sentence: Cowy Cow has one hundred ideas. Here are some of her ideas. Number 79: Green is the best color ever. Number 34: If you chew grass long enough, it might taste like a gluten-free oatmeal raisin cookie. Cowy Cow, have you ever tasted a gluten-free oatmeal raisin cookie?

Premise/plot: Board book to read aloud to little ones. (Farm books should be their own genre or sub-genre.)

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed Cowy Cow. What you should expect: silliness, more silliness, even more silliness. A genius cow with "one hundred" ideas shares two of her ideas in this board book. 

When I first read Cowy Cow I was not a special gluten-free diet. Now that I am, it personally works for me a little bit better. Is this humor kid-humor???? I don't know. I really don't. I can see how someone might read this one cover to cover and be like THIS GOT PUBLISHED? But I liked it more than not.

I liked the illustrations.

 

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

79. The School Is Alive (Eerie Elementary #1)

Eerie Elementary: The School Is Alive. Jack Chabert. Illustrated by Sam Ricks. 2014. 96 pages. [Source: Library]
 

First sentence: “This is HORRIBLE!” said Sam Graves. He was holding up a shiny orange sash. “I can’t believe I have to wear this.” It was Monday morning, and Sam and his best friends Antonio and Lucy were standing in front of their lockers.

Premise/plot: Sam Graves was not thrilled to be named hall monitor even before he knew the job came with thrills and chills. But the custodian, Mr. Nekobi, has hand-picked him to be "the one." The magic, chosen one who can protect the students of Eerie Elementary from the school itself. As the title states out right, the school is alive...and the students are NOT safe. It will be up to Sam (and to a lesser degree his friends Antonio and Lucy) to save everyone. But first he'll have to survive it himself. 

My thoughts: Heavily illustrated chapter book for young readers. That is definitely one way to describe this one. It does offer "thrills and chills" for a young(er) audience. No adult who reads 'real' horror (for their own age group) is going to find this one too scary or daring. 

Horror, even horror lite, is not my favorite or best genre or subgenre. I can say that now as an adult. And I can remember back to my own childhood. This book wouldn't have been "for me" then either. I'd hate to think of how more terrifying my childhood could have been if the idea of METAL FOLDING CHAIRS COMING TO LIFE AND EATING PEOPLE had been introduced through a book. 

The book celebrates the absurd through a darker lens than say Tom Angleberger (who keeps things hilariously absurd....and way over the top.) 

I do think *some* kids will think this book and subsequent books in the series to be great fun. And any book that gets a child super-excited about reading, that keeps readers coming back for more, more, more has some value. 

I don't think every children's book should be the samey-same. I don't think children's books should be exclusively bunnies, unicorns, and ballerinas. 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

43. Audrey (cow)

Audrey (Cow) Dan Bar-el. 2014. 240 pages. [Source: Library][animal fantasy; children's book]

First sentence: How would I describe her in a word?

Premise/plot: Audrey is not a milk cow or a work cow. She’s a food cow. But though her so-called destiny is set—the slaughterhouse inevitable—she will not go down without a fight. This poet cow is on a mission to escape and find freedom. But one cow on her own seems doomed to fail, but a cow with friends...well...anything is possible with a community of support and knowledge.

This one is written as a script. It has many, many, many characters. Cows. Sheep. A rooster. Dogs. Deer. A skunk. A pig. Just to name a few...readers also hear from the humans in the story.

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one. I haven’t quite decided if it was love or love, love, love. I would recommend it. It’s a treat to read. But is it as timeless as Charlotte’s Web or Babe?! I am not sure yet. But it’s a great way to spend a few hours.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Case of the Weird Blue Chicken

The Case of the Weird Blue Chicken. (Chicken Squad #2) Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. 2014. 112 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Dirt. Sugar. Poppy. Sweetie. You lost it. We'll find it.

Premise/plot: Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie are the chicken squad--a team of chicks who solve backyard mysteries for fun. This one features a WEIRD BLUE CHICKEN. A blue bird has come to them for help....

My thoughts: It's a quick read. I did like this one more than the first book in the series. (The Blue Bird aka the "weird blue chicken" isn't all that bright and the running gag through this one is that he mixes up inches and feet.) It was enjoyable enough, but overall a bit mindless. 

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure

The First Misadventure. (Chicken Squad #1) Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. 2014. 112 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Welcome to the yard! Meet the Chicken Squad: Four fuzzy little chicks who should fill their days pecking chicken feed and chasing bugs but instead spend most of their time looking for trouble and finding it.

Premise/plot: Dirt (Peep), Sugar (Little Boo), Poppy (Poppy), and Sweetie (Sweet Coconut Louise) ARE the chicken squad. In this first adventure--or misadventure--the chicks are hard on a case. A squirrel has come to them for help. He's absolutely terrified of something...but of what?!?! Can these four chicks educate a squirrel in the process of helping him overcome his fear(s)?

My thoughts: This was a quick read. I wanted to love, love, love it because HELLO, they are chickens. But so far it's more of a  LIKE for me. So far I'm having a hard time making distinctions between Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie in terms of personality and character. 

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mine!

Mine! Sue Heap. 2014. Candlewick Press. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Once there was a little girl named Amy. She loved her blankie very much. "Mine," she said. "My blankie. Mine." Amy also loved her bear, her bunny, and her bird. "Mine," said Amy.

Premise/plot: It was a perfectly perfect day for Amy until....Zack and Jack--the twins--wanted to play with HER bear and bunny. She might have held firm and continued to not share if her heart hadn't melted for Baby Joe who bonded with her bird.

"Bird," said a little voice. It was Baby Joe. In his hands he held Bird, all teeny, tiny, and fluffy. "Tweet!" went Bird as Baby Joe squeezed him and kissed him again and again.

Not that her heart melted all at once. Not that it didn't take effort. It did.

She gave Bird to Baby Joe. "Mine AND yours," she said.

Note she did NOT in any way shape or form GIVE the twins her bear and bunny. But she allowed them to hold them. There is a BIG distinction.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I'm going to assume that Zack and Jack and Baby Joe may be relations--brothers or cousins perhaps. The story--which occurs completely without adult intervention, adults stepping in to say 'you must share' or 'let's set a timer'--seems like it's set within the family home. Just a guess on my part. (I don't think it actually matters.)

I don't think EVERY toy--possession--has to be shared. I think some sharing of some toys should be encouraged. But by no means all, all the time. I do think asking permission is always a good idea.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mr. Bo Finds A New Home

Mr. Bo Finds A New Home and A New Name. Timothy Battle. 2014. Tate Publishing. 30 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "I'm a pretty nice cat," Linus said to himself, "and very handsome as well." He had been living in a small cage at the cat adoption center for five long days.

Premise/plot: Will this cat find a new home? What kind of home will it be? Will his owners be nice? What name will they give him? The animal shelter has named him Linus. He does not like the name at all--it was the name of one of his brothers. He wants to be named his name. (Though readers never learn what his name was.)

My thoughts: Mr. Bo Finds A New Home and a New Name is the size of a traditional early reader or early chapter book. But it isn't broken into chapters and there is much too much text to be a traditional early reader.

The story may appeal to cat lovers especially. It does have a happy ending only slightly-slightly spoiled by the fact that the cat is still a little sad that his new name isn't his own original name.


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

I Am Walt Disney

I Am Walt Disney. Grace Norwich. Illustrated by Phil Parks. 2014. Scholastic. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Without me, Walt Disney, there would be no Mickey Mouse.

Premise/plot: I Am Walt Disney is an early chapter book biography for young readers (elementary-aged). The book spans Walt Disney's entire life--not just his childhood, not just his success and fame, not just his professional life, not just his legacy. It gives an overview in an age-appropriate way.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I did. I probably would have LOVED it as a kid. It includes photographs, illustrations, sidebars, a timeline, glossary, and more. I think it definitely has appeal and is reader friendly.


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mr. Putter and Tabby Turn the Page

Mr. Putter and Tabby Turn the Page. (Mr. Putter & Tabby #23). Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2014. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

 First sentence: Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, loved quiet time. They loved quiet baths. They loved quiet naps. They loved quiet thinking. Mr. Putter and Tabby spent their favorite quiet times reading. Mr. Putter loved to read, but he did not like to read alone. He liked having someone to read to. And Tabby was the someone.

Premise/plot: Reading has always been a quiet activity that is until Mr. Putter spots a sign at the library: Read aloud with your pet at story time. He signs up! He also tells his neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, about the event at the library. What story will Mr. Putter (and Tabby) choose to read to children? What story will Mrs. Teaberry (and Zeke) choose to read to children?

My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. Mr. Putter and Tabby are two of my favorite, favorite characters. They are relatively new acquaintances of mine. But I know we are kindred spirits at heart. The writing is DELIGHTFUL.

Mr. Putter thought and thought about what story to read aloud at the library. He thought about cowboys and he thought about rabbits. He did not think about gardens. Gardens were not adventures to most people. Gardens were an adventure to Tabby, but that is because Tabby knew how to make them exciting. 

But a big part of the satisfaction--the delight, the joy--comes from the illustrations. Some of my favorite illustrations in this one include: Tabby sitting on Mr. Putter's feet as he is reading; Tabby sitting on Mr. Putter's head as he is reading; Mrs. Teaberry's celebrating "new" with her band 'The Zeekers' and a plate full of cauliflower cookies; Mrs. Teaberry's library hat.


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Here Comes The Easter Cat

Here Comes The Easter Cat. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Claudia Rueda.  2014.  80 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: What's wrong, Cat? You look grumpy. The Easter Bunny? What about him? Well, of course everyone loves the Easter Bunny. Why? Because he's nice! He delivers chocolate eggs to millions of kids. It's a hard job. Don't be jealous. Why don't you be the Easter Cat?

Premise/plot: Cat is jealous of the Easter Bunny. He wants in on the action. Will the Easter Cat be competition for the Easter Bunny? Maybe, maybe not. The Easter Cat is a little too fond of naps and not so fond of hard work. But don't count him completely out. Easter Cat has a plan....

My thoughts: I enjoyed Deborah Underwood's Here Comes the Easter Cat. Cat is a lovable character who communicates mainly by signs and also body language. The illustrations are super expressive. Even children who can't read, can tell exactly what Cat is feeling at any given moment. The narrative tone is casual, conversational. I loved, loved, loved it.

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

Here Comes Santa Cat

Here Comes Santa Cat. Deborah Underwood. 2014. 88 pages. [Source: Library]


First sentence: Hey, Santa! Have you seen Cat? Cat! I didn't even recognize you. Why are you dressed like Santa? So you can give yourself a present? Oh, Cat. Santa will bring you a present, won't he? No? Why not? Ah. I see your problem.

Premise/plot: Cat is worried that Santa will not bring him a present because he's been too naughty. It's Christmas Eve, and it's too late--isn't it--for him to start being nice enough to get on Santa's good list. Cat dresses up as Santa and attempts...well, he attempts many, many things! Will Cat's last minute efforts work? Will Cat get a Christmas present?

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, LOVED this one. Cat and his signs are just too adorable. I love how expressive the illustrations are. This Cat is just super-super lovable. He would be a handful to live with perhaps. But as a character in a book, he's ideal! I love the conversational text. The narrative text is something I'd call practically perfect in every way.

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

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Lulu's Mysterious Mission

Lulu's Mysterious Mission. Judith Viorst. Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. 2014. 185 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: But first let's go find Lulu, who is in the living room screeching, "No! No! No!" although she doesn't screech much anymore.

Premise/plot: Lulu is DEVASTATED to learn that her parents are set to vacation without her. She'll be left behind in the care of a babysitter. Her babysitter is Sonia Sofia Solinsky. And it will be a fierce match between the two...or will it?! Does the babysitter have a secret? And are these two kindred spirits after all?

My thoughts: Definitely a fun story. I love how smart the babysitter is. I love how Lulu even at her most difficult can't surprise and outwit her. I'd recommend all three books.
© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board Book: Time for Bed

Time for Bed. Petr Horacek. 2014. Candlewick Press. 16 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Time to play. Time to put away my toys. Time for supper. Time for a bath.

Premise/plot: Time for Bed is ALL about bedtime routines from start to finish. What makes this board book a bit different from other bedtime books is the format. Each page is shaped. A surprise picture is revealed at the end of the story.

My thoughts: The story is simple and predictable. There isn't much text per page. Which is either a really, really good thing or a bad thing depending on YOUR little one's attention span. The illustrations are very bright and colorful. I think the shaped pages may be easier for young children to turn themselves.  

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers