Wallace and Grace and the Cupcake Caper

Wallace and Grace and the Cupcake Caper. Heather Alexander. Illustrated by Laura Zarrin. 2017. Bloomsbury. 80 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "Let's play a game," said Wallace. He flew high above the trees. "Let's play I Spy," said Grace. She flew next to him.

Premise/plot: Wallace and Grace are detective owls. In this early chapter book, they except two cases. Monty wants to hire Wallace and Grace to prove that Sal stole his cupcake. Sal wants to hire Wallace and Grace to prove that he did NOT take Monty's cupcake. Will Wallace and Grace discover WHO stole the cupcake? Is Sal innocent? Will readers solve the mystery before Wallace and Grace?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this second book in the series. Like the first book it has four chapters. Wallace and Grace showcase their detective skills a bit better in this one, in my opinion. I would definitely recommend this series to young readers. I think the illustrations are lovely, and the plot is fun.

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Wallace and Grace Take The Case

Wallace and Grace Take the Case. Heather Alexander. Illustrated by Laura Zarrin. 2017. Bloomsbury. 80 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "The sun is going down!" called Grace. "It's time to get up!"

Premise/plot: Wallace and Grace are detective owls; they are the owls behind the Night Owl Detective Agency. In this first book in the series, readers meet Wallace and Grace. Edgar, a rabbit, hires these two because he's super-worried there's a GHOST IN THE GARDEN. Is there a ghost in the garden? If it's not a ghost, what is it? Will Wallace and Grace see the ghost and discover the ghost's identity?

My thoughts: This is an early chapter book. There are four chapters. The text size is large, and it has a good amount of illustration. I think Grace is an adorable owl. I'm glad that there are new mystery series being written for young readers. 

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mini Racer

Mini Racer. Kristy Dempsey. Illustrated by Bridget Strevens-Marzo. 2011. Bloomsbury. 32 pages.

Start your engines! Time to race,  
round the corners, take your place.
Ready, steady; green light, go!
Mini Racer won't go slow.
Out the gate and down the hill,
jump a speed bump, show your skill!
Over, under, in, and through,
obstacles are tough to do.

The animals are the drivers of the race cars in this one. And it's just a cute, fun story. It's fun. It's playful. It rhymes. The good kind of rhyme--you know, the kind with actual rhythm. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and match the playful spirit of the text. There are some GREAT details in the illustrations. The things that you probably won't notice until the second time through.

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

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Quick, Slow, Mango!

Quick, Slow, Mango! by Anik McGory. 2011. January 2011. Bloomsbury USA. 32 pages.

It was time for breakfast. Kidogo stood on the bank of the winding river, picking up stones and dropping them gently into the water. "Hurry, hurry!" flapped his mama with her ears. "Chapu, chapu! It's time to drink, little one, or you'll be thirsty later."

This charming picture book stars two characters who are as different as can be. Kidogo, the baby elephant, likes to take his time. He has a pace--his own--and there is no rushing him. He loves to absorb the world around him, live in the moment. PolePole is a monkey. She is always on the go. There's no stopping her! No, she's in a hurry to live life--to live life well. Unfortunately, sometimes she's a little too fast for her own good. Her mother is always telling her to slow down. (PolePole literally means slowly, slowly. And, just so you know, Kidogo means little.) When these two meet, something magical happens! A new friendship begins, and a tasty treat is enjoyed by all! For though PolePole is a bit too quick, and Kidogo is a bit too slow--together they're absolutely right!

I found this one delightful! I loved the story. I loved the repetition. I loved the pronunciation guide too. Otherwise, I wouldn't have braved reading it aloud. And the illustrations, well, I thought they were adorable! I just loved this one!!!

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

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Play, Louis, Play

Play, Louis, Play!: The True Story of A Boy and His Horn. Muriel Harris Weinstein. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. 2010.  [December 2010] Bloomsbury. 112 pages.

There isn't a jazzman in New Orleans who hasn't tapped my brain about Louis Armstrong. They talk to me as if sugar's sprinkled on their tongue. "Hey, you knew Louis like no one else. What's the pitch, the real story?" These jazzmen know I know. I ought to. I was Little Louis' horn, the first horn he ever played.

I'm not sure a book narrated by a horn should have the word true in the title. Though that could be just me, I suppose. I love Louis Armstrong. I do. I love listening to his music. I love reading about him, too. I've read a few picture books and chapter books--some nonfiction, some fiction. I think it's wonderful that there is such a rich amount of books about jazz and jazz musicians for young readers. (Picture books, poetry books, chapter books, etc.)

Play, Louis, Play is reader-friendly, I think. The book covers the earliest years of his life--his childhood to the beginning of his success. It covers the good times and the bad times. And in his childhood, there were plenty of not-so-good times. Hunger, poverty, misdirection. But music saved Louis Armstrong in more ways than one. While I wish--I really wish--it had been told by a human narrator, the facts remain the facts. The story is interesting despite the fact that you have to suspend your disbelief from cover to cover.

Readers might also be interested in Eric Kimmel's A Horn for Louis. And I really enjoyed The Louis Armstrong You Never Knew by James Lincoln Collier.



© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Ribbit Rabbit

Ribbit Rabbit. Candace Ryan. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. 2011. February 2011. Walker. 32 pages.


Frog and Bunny are best friends.
Ribbit Rabbit.
Rabbit Ribbit.
They go swimming together.
Ribbit Rabbit.
Dip it, Dab it.
They fight monsters together.
Ribbit Rabbit.
Zip it, Zap it.

I liked this one. I really liked this one. It's a playful look at friendship. At what it means to be a friend when you're young--how difficult it can be to get along, but how very important it is that you do! Frog and Bunny are the stars of this picture book. They are best friends. But their friendship is tested--at times--sometimes by little fights, sometimes by big fights. But their friendship is worth it, isn't it?

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Can't Sleep Without Sheep

Can't Sleep Without Sheep. Susanna Leonard Hill. Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. 2010. Walker Books. 40 pages.

Ava had a hard time falling asleep.
Her mind was always so busy!
"Try counting sheep," suggested her mother.
So she did.

Ava depends on counting sheep to fall asleep each night. So it's no little matter when one night her sheep decide to quit. Oh, they won't go without at least trying to find Ava a replacement. But what animal can jump the fence so well as a sheep? How about a herd of buffalo? a flock of chickens? Ava tries counting pigs, chickens, cows, horses, even penguins and hippos. But the sheep are irreplaceable. Ava needs her sheep? Can Ava convince her sheep to stay?!

It's a silly bedtime book. I liked it! The illustrations were very fun! They matched the text well. Both being playful and exuberant.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Animal House

Animal House. Candace Ryan. Illustrated by Nathan Hale. 2010. July 2010. Walker Books. 40 pages.

My teacher says I belong in a zoo, and she isn't far from the truth. I live in an animal house. Well, actually it's a gorvilla.

If you love crazy-strange picture books, then Animal House might be a good fit for you. It's a bit too strange, too wacky, for me. (Though I did always love There's A Wocket in my Pocket by Dr. Seuss. So you'd think I'd appreciate the imaginative spirit of this one.)

In Animal House, Mrs. Nuddles pays a home visit to one of her students. She doesn't believe some of his strange stories, his excuses. So she comes to his house, to see for herself. It's told through his point of view.

I told Mrs. Nuddles that she couldn't miss my house. It has the biggest condoor in the whole neighborhood. I asked him to be on his best behavior--I really want to go on that field trip tomorrow. I think I see Mrs. Nuddles through the windodo now.
"Hi, Mrs. Nuddles. Be careful stepping onto the floormingos. They don't like dirt getting stuck between their feathers."

As the two make their way to his kangaroom, things get a bit dangerous, a bit tricky. Will Mrs. Nuddles survive this visit?

Animal House is so extreme, so strange. Maybe it's appealing--engaging--to younger readers?! Maybe the word plays are sillier to the target audience?! I'm not sure. It didn't quite work for me. But maybe you'll like it more than I did. Have you read this one? What did you think?


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Too Pickley!

Too Pickley! By Jean Reidy. Illustrated by Genevieve Leloup. 2010. July 2010. Bloomsbury. 32 pages.

I am hungry!
Too wrinkly,
Too squishy,
Too fruity,
Too fishy!

Meet a little boy who is a very picky eater. He finds fault with everything placed before him. Will he find a meal that is just right? Read and see for yourself in Jean Reidy's Too Pickley!

I liked this one. I didn't love it like I loved Jean Reidy's Too Purpley. But. I did like it.

I think the illustrations were great.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

When the World is Ready for Bed

When the World is Ready for Bed. Gillian Shields. Illustrated by Anna Currey. 2009. Bloomsbury. 32 pages.

When the world
Is ready for bed,
The sky grows dark,
The sun glows red.

The little flowers
Shut their eyes,
The night birds sing
Their lullabies.

Supper's ready
In the pot--
Come and eat it
While it's hot.

When the World Is Ready for Bed is a sweet, gentle bedtime book. It's written in rhyme. (But the rhymes are nicely done.) It makes for a rhythmic read aloud, it flows easily. In the book, readers meet a family of bunnies. Cute, adorable bunnies who are getting ready to go to bed. What's involved in their nightly routine? The usual. Taking a bath. Brushing teeth. Putting on pajamas. And the all-important bedtime story!

It's a sweet book, a cute book. It may not appeal to every reader. But I liked it.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Daddy Is A Cozy Hug

Daddy is a Cozy Hug. Rhonda Gowler Greene. Illustrated by Maggie Smith. 2010. May 2010. Walker & Company. 32 pages.

Daddy is a fish with fins when summer heats the air. We splish and splash in crashing waves--a wiggling, wriggling pair.
Daddy is a tap-tap hammer, building things with me. We work tap-tap and make a house for birdies in our tree.

Daddy is a Cozy Hug is the perfect companion to Mommy Is a Soft, Warm Kiss. It's a sweet celebration of fatherhood. It celebrates the ordinary moments of life, of parenthood, of family life--through each season of the year. One of my favorite lines?

Daddy is a sneaky fox when playing hide and seek.
He makes himself so hard to find...I sometimes have to peek.

The story is told through rhyme, but it's good rhyme so it works well! I also liked the illustrations. I thought they worked well with the text.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mommy Is A Soft Warm Kiss

Mommy is a Soft Warm Kiss by Rhonda Gowler Greene. Illustrated by Maggie Smith. 2010. March 2010. Walker Books. 32 pages.

Mommy is the sprinkle rain for seeds all in a row.
She helps me plant a garden.
We wait for it to grow.

Mommy is a ticklebug that
makes me squirm and giggle.
Her fingers creep-crawl
in and out...
and make me laugh and wiggle.

I loved this one. I did. I just loved it. I found it sweet and charming. It stars a little girl describing her mom in fun, imaginative ways. (It also shows a loving relationship all through the year--through the four seasons. Which is a nice feature.) It does rhyme, but it's rhyme that works. It has a nice rhythm to it. (So hard to get it just right, but I think Green succeeds for the most part.) My favorite line is this:

Mommy is a rocking chair
when time to take a nap.
Back and forth I rock and doze,
cozy in her lap.

I also liked the illustrations. I thought they worked well with the text.


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Princesses Are Not Perfect

Princesses Are Not Perfect. Kate Lum. Illustrated by Sue Hellard. 2010. March 2010. Bloomsbury. 32 pages.

Once there were three princesses: Princess Allie, Princess Mellie, and Princess Libby. They lived in a rose-covered palace by the sea. They weren't the kind of princesses who sit around doing nothing. They were very busy. They grew things in the garden, baked things in the kitchen, and built things in the workshop. Each princess had her specialty.

What happens when these three princesses decide to switch jobs one day? They each learn that princesses are not perfect, that each princess has their own special talent, their own gift, that certain something that makes them special, unique. And of course, they learn it is best to do what they love.

I liked this one. I didn't expect to like it. The illustrations didn't seem all that inviting--to me--a bit too busy perhaps. But once I started reading this one, I found it be charming.

This one is a follow-up to Princesses Are Not Quitters (2003).

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Bedtime for Mommy

Bedtime for Mommy. Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2010. (March 2010). Bloomsbury. 32 pages.

Time for bed, Mommy!

This bedtime book is practically perfect in every way. It's written by one of my very favorite authors, Amy Krouse Rosenthanal. It's also illustrated by one of my very favorite illustrators, LeUyen Pham. What is it about? Well, it's about a little girl who puts her mommy to bed. Everything from reminding her that it's getting time for bed, to making sure she's taken her bath and brushed her teeth. It's a sweet book; a cute book; an again-again book. It isn't the first picture book to reverse roles or to put a twist on the traditional bedtime story, but everything is so well done it goes straight to my favorite-and-best list.

I love, love, love the illustrations in this one. Pham takes a fun concept, a fun premise, and makes it work really, really well. I love how both the mom and the daughter are drawn. The way these two interact with each other, their scenes are just perfect, just right.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Animal Crackers Fly the Coop

Animal Crackers Fly the Coop written and illustrated by Kevin O'Malley. (March 2010). 2010. 40 pages. Bloomsbury (Walker) 40 pages.

Hen loved to tell jokes. Jokes like Why did the chicken go to the library? To check out a bawk, bawk, bawk.

This one is a retelling of the Brementown Musicians. Hen and her friends (a dog, a cat, a cow) want to be comedians. They want to make it big. Do these run away animals stand a chance in the real world? Do they have what it takes? Read for yourself in this joke-filled adventure.

Expect a thousand-and-one puns in this one. Not that it isn't fun. It is. Just expect jokes here, there, and everywhere.


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Too Purpley

Too Purpley. By Jean Reidy. Illustrated by Genevieve Leloup. Bloomsbury USA. 32 pages.

NOT THESE CLOTHES!

The heroine of this fun little picture book is a little girl who isn't quite sure what she wants to wear...but she sure knows what she DOESN'T want to wear. As she tries on dozens of outfits, each one has something wrong with it...

Too purpley,
Too tickly,
Too puckery,
Too prickly.

Will this pig-tail-loving little heroine ever find clothes that are just right to wear? I loved this one. (It could be that I'm partial to pig-tails. But I think it goes much deeper than that.) This one is fun and colorful. Getting dressed can be a struggle between parents and children, and this scenario feels right to me. It's something that I think people can relate to.

I just love, love, love the fun illustrations. So bright, so bold, so colorful, so very right. They complement the story so well.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Natalie & Naughtily

Kirsch, Vincent X. 2008. Natalie and Naughtily. Bloomsbury.

Natalie and Naughtily Nopps lived in a house on top of the greatest department store in the world. Did you notice that it is a department store with their name on it? Well, did you?

From the time they were born, Natalie did things one way and Naughtily did them another.

On rainy days, these two are allowed to play in the store. On sunny days, they wish it would rain. (They'd rather play in the store than on the beautiful roof-top garden.) This story takes place on a rainy day. The girls' parents have asked them not to play in the store. But the girls decide that they should ignore those instructions. They're not going to "play" in the store, they're going to help in the store. But how much can help can two small--and sometimes naughty, but always stubborn--children be? Read and see in Natalie and Naughtily.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mousie Love

Chaconas, Dori. 2009. Mousie Love. Illustrated by Josee Masse. Bloomsbury.

I typically love picture books starring cute little mice. (Not that I *love* mice in real life.) But fictional mice are cute and charming and lovable, generally speaking. Like who could not love the mouse from If You Give A Mouse A Cookie? Or the oh-so-messy mouse from Mouse Mess? Or the little white mice starring in Mouse Paint and Mouse Count?

Mousie Love is a romance. It's the story of a young mouse wooing another. Tully fell in love with Frill the moment he saw her. This is their love story.

Here's how it starts,

"The moment Tully saw Frill, he immediately fell in love. Tully hadn't planned on falling in love. But the cat had chased him under the pantry door, and there was Frill, in the flour bin, prettily powdered. With an eager flutter in his heart. Tully didn't say hello or how do you do? The first words out of his mouth where, "Will you marry me?"

How many proposals will this little mouse have to make before he hears a 'yes'? Read and see for yourself! The book is funny and cute and charming.

I'm not sure on the intended age group on this one. I'm going to say that this one is probably not for the youngest readers in the picture book range (toddlers, preschoolers). There is a lot of text per page. And typically wordy texts--no matter how good the text may be--can't hold short attention spans. It would probably work for the four and up crowd, I'm guessing.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers