Sparky & Spike

Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and The Wildest, Smartest Dog Ever. Barbara Lowell. Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. 2019. Cameron Kids. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Sparky's dog, Spike, is a white dog with black spots. He's the wildest and smartest dog ever. Spike rings the doorbell to come inside. He only drinks from the bathroom faucet. And he knows more than fifty words.

Premise/plot: This picture book stars a young--very young--Charles Schulz, a.k.a "Sparky." Sparky loves, loves, loves his dog. But he's also interested in drawing. He is especially interested in drawing cartoons. But it isn't easy--will he ever be good enough to get published?!

My thoughts: I liked this one. It is not a picture book biography necessarily. Though it is biographical. Readers catch a glimpse of Schulz as a young boy with a dream. Perhaps readers will have dreams of their own that seem--at this moment--impossible. This is a great inspirational read. And I personally LOVE Peanuts and Snoopy.

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

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Great Chicken Escape

The Great Chicken Escape. Nikki McClure. 2018. Cameron Kids. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Good Morning, Chickens.

Premise/plot: The Great Chicken Escape is inspired by true events. The author while living with 'a small group of monastics on Spruce Island, Alaska' witnesses the great escape. One day the chickens escaped their coop. The author note reads,

"Some of the more timid were caught, but a rogue group successfully eluded the nuns. The nuns decided that there was no real danger, only the possibility of a great chicken adventure. They let the chickens roam, enjoying the freedom of the forest. There was no worry, for the chickens would return home to roost; after all, they are chickens." 

The illustrations are black and white.

My thoughts: I like this one. I do. It isn't my absolute favorite picture book about chickens. (There are believe it or not a lot of great books starring chickens!) But the illustrations are great. The text is sparse and simple. But the story is fun nonetheless.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Red

Red by Jed Alexander. 2018. Cameron Kids. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Premise/plot: A little girl in a red hood and cape is walking in the woods. Could she be on the way to her Grandma's house? Perhaps. She is going somewhere that is for sure--basket in hand. She is not alone in the woods.

Red is a wordless picture book. The story is revealed solely through the black, white, and red illustrations.

My thoughts: I rarely love, love, love wordless picture books. I need words. I hate to admit it, but I do. It is a lot harder for me to "read" illustrations than to read words. Perhaps it should be the opposite in a logical world.

The illustrations. I didn't love them. I like the idea of loving vintage-inspired illustrations. I like the idea of loving the simplicity and boldness of the black, white, and red. I think I liked the backgrounds better than the illustrations of the people and the animals.

In this picture book, a little girl is on her way to her own surprise birthday party. The wolf in the woods is not an enemy, but a DISTRACTION. His goal seems to be to keep the girl from noticing all the other animals on the way to the party. The animals are carrying presents, party decorations, balloons, a CAKE. Will she be SURPRISED?

Text: 0 of 0
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 3 out of 5

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers