96-97. Two Elvis & Romeo Early Readers

96. Elvis and Romeo Visit the Vet. David Soman. Illustrated by Jacky Davis. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [animal fantasy, early reader, ready to read level 1, three stars]

First sentence: Hi, Elvis! Hi, Romeo!

Premise/plot: Elvis does NOT want to be at the vet. Romeo is trying to convince his friend that the vet isn't that bad because the vet gives treats after the visit. Will Elvis be convinced?

My thoughts: The illustrations of Elvis and Romeo are CUTE and adorable and lovely. The story itself is super-simple. Two dogs at the vet. Speech bubbles reveal their dialogue/conversation.

I liked this one well enough. It is a ready-to-read reader, level 1. At this level usually any plot you get is a treat. So this DOES have a plot and it DOES have characters. So for being a level one reader, it's good. That being said, leveled readers are never going to be super incredible most amazing thing ever reads. So recommended for the target audience for sure.

97. Elvis and Romeo Go To Dog School. David Soman. Illustrated by Jacky Davis. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library]  [animal fantasy, early reader, ready to read level 1, four stars]

First sentence: Elvis and Romeo were at their first day of dog school. Are you ready to learn new things, Romeo? I know a lot of things already. I know how to stay. Do you know how to do that, Elvis?

Premise/plot: Elvis and Romeo are attending dog school. Both dogs have a chance to playfully show off to one another. Elvis teaches Romeo how to catch a ball.

My thoughts: I read both Elvis and Romeo Visit the Vet and Elvis and Romeo Go to Dog School in one sitting. The dog school book has a bit more plot. There are more moments for humor. I liked both books well enough. I do think the illustrations of Elvis and Romeo are cute and adorable. I think for young dog lovers, these two books will be quite appealing. They are level one ready-to-read early readers. There is some plot, but, keep in mind they are early readers.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

95. Bob the Vampire Snail

95. Bob the Vampire Snail. Andrea Zuill. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]

First sentence: Slam! Thud! Crash! Bob heard a terrifying...scream! Then a stomp, stomp, stomp of running feet. Next came an uncomfortable...crack of a shell. Then finally a powerful...poof! An icky drip.

Premise/plot: Bob the snail is about to become Bob the VAMPIRE snail. He didn't ask for the change, nor did he welcome it. But what's a vampire snail to do?! Learn how to do vampire-y things, of course. So what will Bob drink? The "blood" of tomatoes. Still, it's a lonely life for Bob....or is it?!

My thoughts: This book is weird, strange, odd, quirky, different. The darkness is outweighed by the silliness, for the most part. Reading is subjective. There were things I enjoyed about the story. There are speech bubbles with VAMPIRE facts and SNAIL facts. The premise itself is intriguing. The title alone makes one curious to read it. For me, I didn't quite like it like I'd hoped. I do think it has appeal for the right reader(s).

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

94. Mouse and Spoon: Rabbit Tea

94. Rabbit Tea (Mouse and Spoon) (Ready to Read Level 2). Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, animal fantasy, early reader]

First sentence: On Littleton Street in a little town, three little mice had a bakery. Tom was the youngest, Ginger was the oldest, and Piper was right in the middle. Their shop was called the Mouse and Spoon Bakery.

Premise/plot: Ginger, Piper, and Tom love, love, love, love baking. In this book in the series, these three are catering for a a RABBIT tea party. Six mama rabbits and Two-hundred-and-sixteen children! These three bakers will keep busy, busy, busy preparing food for that many!

My thoughts: I have really enjoyed the books in this series that I have read. It's a fun idea for a series. The mice are ADORABLE and precious. I love how there is a new customer in each book. There are plenty of things that stay the same, and, yet each book is a little different.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

93. The Feelings Book: A Touch-and-Feel Playbook

93. Board book: The Feelings Book: A Touch-and-Feel Playbook. Mike Henson. Miguel Ordonez. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board book, touch and feel, interactive]

First sentence: Orange is all buzzy and jittery. Can you scratch Orange's paw? Can you choose which emotion Orange might be feeling?

Premise/plot: Board book, concept book, interactive book--that's what you get when you pick up The Feelings Book. The feelings are color-coded. Blue is sad, hurt, worried, sick, gloomy. Green is calm, still, quiet, rested, careful. Yellow is happy, surprised, playful, brave, funny. Orange is excited, silly, confused, nervous, scared. Red is angry, mad, grumpy, cranky, prickly. So the "clues" little ones have are the COLORS and descriptive words. For example, "buzzy and jittery" describe orange.

My thoughts: I have SO MANY THOUGHTS. On the one hand, I love, love, love the TEXTURES are actually TEXTURES. 90% of the time books that are supposed to have different textures to touch and feel get it wrong. They'll include a few textures, but, then use "shiny" as a texture. I thought the textures were good.

On the other hand, I don't love the colors. I'll try to explain. I honestly don't know if I mean saturation or contrast. But *something* is off with the colors. Green and blue look too similar and red and orange look nearly identical. Yellow looks a bit gray. The colors are not *true* colors.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

90. Norman and the Smell of Adventure

90. Norman and the Smell of Adventure. Ryan T. Higgins. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

First sentence: Norman was a porcupine. His best friend was Mildred. Mildred was a tree. They had favorite things they did day after day. But one morning Norman wanted to try different things. "What do you say, Mildred? Let's go do something new! What do you mean you have other plans?"

Premise/plot: Norman and Mildred have a fight. If you've read the first sentence (above), you know Mildred is a tree. Still, Norman has a "fight" with Mildred his best friend. He gets so angry he sets off on his own adventure. He expects Mildred to come after him. She doesn't. She's a tree. Still, he's determined to have an adventure even if it's on his own. He soon makes other "friends." At the end of his adventure he returns home to Mildred to tell her all about it.

My thoughts: This one was definitely silly. Norman is quite a silly character. Meeting "Sally" (the cactus) was fun. (Norman misreads a "sale" sign on the cactus and thinks it's a name tag). The lesson was simple enough: friends don't have to do everything together. I liked it. However, my expectations were a bit higher for this one. I wanted to love it more than I did. I have LOVED, LOVED, LOVED some of his books in the past, and I was expecting to be charmed or delighted. It was a good enough read. But his other books are better.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

89. Do You See the Tiger?

89. Do You See the Tiger? Philip Ardagh. Illustrated by David Melling. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

First sentence: One rainy night in London town, Penny and Daddy went down, down, down...to an underground station deep below, with its inviting lighting all aglow. They were still drying from the rain when in pulled a clattering silver train. WHOOSH! A voice from a speaker, in one loud burst, said: "Please let the passengers off first!"

Premise/plot: Penny sees a tiger on the train; her dad never sees the tiger and does not believe her fanciful story.

My thoughts: This picture book is written in rhyme. The story is simple enough, yet the narrative is lyrical. The lyrical, rhyming narrative elevates it a bit. The story does seem to drag in places, perhaps a little too much text for the story itself, yet this one has its moments. I enjoyed the celebration of imagination. The illustrator is clearly on Penny's side! I definitely liked the illustrations.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

88. Kitty vs. Kindergarten

88. Kitty vs. Kindergarten. Martha Freeman. Illustrated by Eda Kaban. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, pets, school]

First sentence: Kitty was a good, nice kitty who lived with a good, nice family.

Premise/plot: Kitty does not particularly want to go to school with her human child to kindergarten. Kitty is quite content to stay at home and 'be regular' doing all the regular kitty things. However, Kitty is catnapped and taken for show and tell. Will Kitty survive her day at kindergarten? Will Kitty learn anything at school?

My thoughts: It was okay. I wanted to like it more than I did...because KITTY. The story is fine enough. Kitty gets out of his comfort zone. Kitty ends up teaching the kindergarten class a few things. It is enjoyable enough to share with little ones starting school who also happen to love KITTIES.



© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

85. George & Lenny Are Always Together

85. George & Lenny Are Always Together. Jon Agee. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, animal fantasy, friendship, picture book]

First sentence: George was always with Lenny. And Lenny was always with George. Say, George! Have you ever noticed that we are always together. Yes, Lenny! It's terrific. We are never alone! I wonder, George. What is it like to be alone? Lonely, I bet. And sad! But George, what if being alone is just as much fun as being together?

Premise/plot: George (the bear) and Lenny (the bunny) are best, best, best friends who are always together. But what if they weren't always together. What if--gasp--they took a few hours away from each other! What if Lenny had alone time? What if George had alone time? What if they had alone-time together?! 

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. The story was cute and adorable. I liked both Lenny and George. I loved, loved, loved the illustrations. Overall, this one is a delightful read about friendship.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

84. The Elephant's Birthday (Mouse and Spoon)

84. The Elephant's Birthday (Mouse and Spoon). Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, ready to read level 2, animal fantasy, series book; 5 stars]

First sentence: On Littleton Street in a little town, three little mice had a bakery. They were Ginger and Piper and Tom. Tom was the youngest in the family. Ginger was the oldest. And Piper was right in the middle. They had whiskers and long tails. And like all mice, they were very clean and tidy.

Premise/plot: Cynthia Rylant's newest early reader series, Mouse and Spoon, stars three lovely mice who run a bakery shop. In this book, ELEPHANT is having a birthday party. The order at the bakery is a LARGE one since Elephant is large AND he has many, many monkey friends who will need banana bread! 

My thoughts: This one is adorable. It just is. I enjoyed spending time with Ginger, Piper, and Tom. The book is predictably delightful in that cutesy-sweet way. I will definitely be looking for all forthcoming books in the series. This is the second one I've read this year.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

83. A Scrub in the Tub

83. A Scrub in the Tub. Jan Thomas. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, humor, 5 stars]

First sentence: Pee-ew! SOMEONE needs a scrub in the tub! 
Absolutely!
WHO needs a scrub in the tub?
YOU, Pig! YOU need a scrub in the tub!
Absolutely!
ME? I don't think I  need a scrub in the tub!

Premise/plot: PIG does not want a scrub in the tub. His friends disagree. If Pig wants to hang around with them, a scrub in the tub is not optional. Will Pig take a bath? Will he enjoy his bath?

My thoughts: It has been a while since I've read Jan Thomas' humorous picture books. These are the same beloved characters from earlier picture books. She is great at writing silly, humorous picture books and early readers for young readers. Her books often have again-again appeal. Definitely recommended for fans of Jan Thomas. And if this is your first Jan Thomas picture book, be sure to check out her earlier picture books!

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

82. Who Meows?

82. Who Meows? A Book of Animal Sounds. Robin Page. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, concept book]

First sentence: Who meows? A cat meows. Who gobbles? A turkey gobbles. Who croaks?

Premise/plot: Who Meows is a question-answer concept book for little ones teaching animal sounds. It starts with a question, always. Turn the page to find the answer and get the next question. This format gives little ones ample opportunities to guess what animal will be revealed next. The format and structure is simple. The illustrations are colorful.

My thoughts: I liked this one. Or I liked it well enough. For the target audience--toddlers through preschoolers, I think this one is a solid choice. I could see this being a good choice for reading aloud with little ones at home. It might also work for story time at the library, though I'm less clear if this would be ideal. For larger families, older siblings could read aloud with younger ones. The appeal of this text might be limited to younger audiences but that doesn't make it less important to have in the library.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

80-81. Two Animal Board books

 80. Board book: Cute Cats: A Lift the Flap Book. Christie Williams. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, cats, pets]

First sentence: Rupert likes a long nap. His favourite spot? A nice warm lap! Leo leaps to catch a fish. Will it make it to his dish? 

Premise/plot: What you see is what you get! Cute cats, cute cats, and more cute cats. Little ones will meet Rupert, Leo, Snowflake, Milo, Coco and Luna. Parents can read the last page of the book to get question ideas to ask while little ones while they read. Questions like, "What's the funniest thing you've seen a cat do?"

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one. It was cute. It was sweet. It was simple. Rhyming text. Flaps to lift. It was a solidly good read IF you are looking for a cat-themed board book to share with toddlers. Don't expect a story, a plot. But what you do have are cute cats being cute.

81. Board book: Cute Dogs: A Lift the Flap Book. Christie Williams. 2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, board book, dogs, pets]

First sentence:  Pug likes chewing on a shoe. Let's see what her friend Tom can do. 

Premise/plot: What you see is what you get! This one is similar to Cute Cats, except obviously DOGS. Simple rhyming text. Flaps to lift. Cute dogs being cute. This one is slightly different in that it highlights the dog TOM in most of the text. The dogs your little one will be meeting: Tom, Max, Tilly, Charlie, Pug, and Milo.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. Again, IF you have a little one that loves pets--cats, dogs, then this one is a delightfully cute read. Short. Simple. Cute. I do like the question section at the end. I'm not sure it's absolutely necessary, however, it is nice. It might prove a useful reminder to parents that yes they can ask questions while reading to keep the experience interactive and engaging.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

79. The Wild Robot On the Island

79. The Wild Robot on the Island. Peter Brown. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, audio book, picture book]

First sentence: In the middle of the ocean an island stood above the waves. It had meadows and forests and rivers and a great variety of animals. Everything was just right on the island. And then a strange new creature arrived. 

Premise/plot: The Wild Robot has been adapted into a picture book. This picture book introduces younger reader to the basic, central story of The Wild Robot. It is stripped of much of the plot and many of the details.

My thoughts: I am conflicted on the rating. IF you only look at it on its own without taking into consideration either the full-length BOOK or the movie adaptation, then this is a cozy, sweet read for little ones. IF, however, you read it comparing and contrasting it with either the novel or the movie, then it's easy to see how much is truly missing. The book in hand is certainly pleasant enough, a good read. It just does not compare in any way with the novel or even the movie. It isn't quite so bad as comparing a full meal with baby food from a jar, mind you. It's just lacking 'the flavor' and substance of the book.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

78. Zebra and Yak

78. Zebra and Yak The Backwards Alphabet Book. Paul Friedrich. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]

First sentence: Are you ready to start the alphabet? Let's go! Z is for Zebra.
What? What's going on? Did I miss my cue from Xylophone? I didn't hear X is for Xylophone. I'm not ready.
Z is for Zebra
I get that. I'm Zebra. But you're way early. It's A is for Apple, B is for something, the other letters, and then it's my turn!
Apple wasn't around. We're starting with Z instead.
This is ridiculous! We need to find Apple!

Premise/plot: Zebra and Yak star in a backwards alphabet book. This catches Zebra and the others by surprise! They are all used to being THE END of the alphabet and not the beginning. The book is full of bantering back and forth between the characters and the narrator (as well as between themselves) as the search for Apple continues.

My thoughts: I loved this one. It was fun, silly, exuberant. I loved the humor. I think it would make a great read aloud. The humor I think would make it appealing to those who have even grown a bit beyond the whole 'concept' of alphabet books.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

77. Cool Buds To The Rescue

77. Cool Buds To the Rescue (I Can Read Comics Level 3). Barbara Lehman. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, early graphic novel]

First sentence: Hello, new day!

Premise/plot: This I Can Read Level 3 early graphic novel stars a handful of arctic friends: Blue (Arctic fox) Puff (Atlantic Puffin), Tip (Arctic Hare), and Sealy (Harbor Seal). The story is quite simple: Tip is a stranded sailor in need of rescue. The other animals come to his rescue and welcome him to their community. Now that there's four it begins to feel like a 'real' town.

My thoughts:  Do I think this one would be good for kids to read? Sure. Yes. Of course. It is a graphic novel for younger readers who are just beginning to read on their own and picking up graphic novels. It includes a guide on how to read graphic novels--the panels, the bubbles, etc. The story is super simple. Not sure if this is the start of a series or perhaps several into a series. Have no idea if there's plan for more books starring these friends.

As an adult reader, it's not my favorite or best. But I do think for the intended audience it works.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

76. Lone Wolf Goes to the Library

76. Lone Wolf Goes to the Library. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-fai Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, series book, animal fantasy]

First sentence: Wolf was reading his library book. He thought about the words. He enjoyed the sound of pages turning. It was very nice. "Mail!" called the careless postman. "Grrrr," said Wolf. But no mail arrived. The next day, Wolf was reading again. "Mail!" called the careless postman. "Grrrr!" said Wolf. He was up to a very good part in his book. But no mail arrived. The next day, Wolf finished his book. He stretched his arms. He picked up his watering can. "Mail!" called the careless postman. A letter smacked Wolf in the bottom. Wolf looked around his garden. There was a letter in the rose bush. There was a letter in the fountain. There was a letter in his fur. "Grrrr!" said Wolf.

Premise/plot: Wolf is on the verge of having AN OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOK. He has a very short amount of time to turn in his book before terrible, horrible penalties occur. BUT returning the book in time may just call for some plotting, planning, and scheming because PEOPLE peopling. He will have to dare go into the library during storybook time. 

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Lone Wolf. I do. I crazy love this character. He's wonderfully fabulously a loner. This is the fourth Lone Wolf book released this year. I hope the series goes on forever and ever. In this one, the library setting makes it extra fabulous.

My favorite scene is when Lone Wolf is trying to return his library book via return chute. The unthinkable happens--I imagine it happens frequently in real life--a snotty boy with snotty hands handles the chute and SNOT, snot, and more snot. A "stern librarian" closes the return chute with this message: CLOSED BECAUSE OF SNOT.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

75. Lone Wolf On Vacation

Lone Wolf On Vacation. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, early reader] 

First sentence: It was summer vacation. Wolf packed his bags. He watered his plants. He said goodbye to....NO ONE! Wolf didn't have any friends to say goodbye to. Which was just the way he liked it. Wolf couldn't wait to go on vacation. To smell the fresh air. To see the sights. To be alone in new places. And best of all, he wouldn't have to worry about running into anyone he knew.

Premise/plot: Wolf is a lone wolf...a lone wolf by choice. Will his vacation go as planned? Or will he be surrounded by people, people, people, and more people!!! Will he ever get to relax on his vacation? Or will life keep throwing bothersome people and noisy situations in his path?

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, love to infinity and beyond this character. LONE WOLF is awesome. That is all. This is the third Lone Wolf book I've read--I believe there are four published this year. It was WONDERFUL.

Quotes:

"How about a sing-along?" called the bus driver. OH NO. This was not a quiet bus driver. This was a singing bus driver. "The wheels on the bus go round and round," sang the singing bus driver. "Grrrr!" said Wolf.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

73. This Book is Dangerous!

 

73. This Book is Dangerous! Ben Clanton. 2025. 44 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]

First sentence: How do I exit this place?

Premise/plot: Narwhal and Jelly have starred in an early chapter book series (or is it an early graphic novel chapter book series???) for years now. This is their first picture book, I believe. In this one, Jelly is having a TERRIBLE time of it. And Jelly is blaming YOU the reader for his current troubles. YOU know the book is dangerous. YOU keep turning the pages. YOU keep aggravating the situation by doing the exact opposite of what Jelly wants YOU the reader to do. Will Jelly make it to the end of the book?

My thoughts: I have not read the Narwhal and Jelly series though I have heard great things. This is an 'interactive' picture book. I'll clarify, if YOU the reader use YOUR imagination and play along with Jelly's game, then the book is interactive.

The book is silly and fun. I can see it having appeal with young readers.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

72. Owlets and Tarts (Mouse and Spoon #2)

72. Mouse and Spoon: Owlets and Tarts. (Ready to Read Level 2) Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, animal fantasy, early readers, children's books]

First sentence: On Littleton Street in a little town, three little mice had a bakery. Ginger was the oldest, Tom was the youngest, and Piper was right in the middle. Their shop was called the Mouse and Spoon bakery.

Premise/plot: Owl parents are desperate for some sleep--they have three owlets at home. The mice at Mouse and Spoon know just what to do to solve the problem....

My thoughts: Could this book be any more precious? any more adorable? I absolutely love, love, love the illustrations. ADORABLE and delightful. The story is good, pleasant, enjoyable. But it's the illustrations that make this one so joyful. This is the second book, I believe, in a new series by Cynthia Rylant. I've LOVED some of her books in the past. Though this is the second book in the series, it was the first my library had available.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

71. Pop Goes the Nursery Rhyme

 

71. Pop Goes the Nursery Rhyme. Betsy Bird. Illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, humor, fractured nursery tales, 5 stars]

First sentence: All around the mulberry bush, 
The donkey chased the weasel.
The donkey thought 'twas all in fun...
Pop! Goes the weasel.
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was right as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to...
Pop! Goes the weasel.

Premise/plot: The weasel gets to go POP in nearly every nursery tale in Betsy Bird's silly and creative play on nursery tales. The 'Secretary Bird' is having a time trying to keep things all proper and sorted and REGULAR. But alas, the weasel is weaselly. 

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one. It was SILLY and goofy and just fun. Though I will admit some bias. Betsy Bird was one of the first book bloggers I started following way, way, way back in the day. (I started blogging in 2006). This book is delightful.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers