112. The Great Biscuit Bake-Off

The Great Biscuit Bake-Off. (Aristokittens #2) Jennifer Castle. 2022. 128 pages. [Source: Library] 

First sentence: Toulouse looked up at the wide, empty canvas sitting on the easel in front of him. Then he closed his eyes and thought: which color should I start with?

Premise/plot: This is the second in a new Disney spin-off early chapter series starring the three kittens from Disney's Aristocats. Marie, Berlioz, and  Toulouse are having great fun with their creature cafe. But things aren't always all that equal between them when it comes to running the place. Toulouse, for one, would like to be move involved with decorating some of the treats. But his sister, Marie, is convinced otherwise. He has one job to do at that cafe and that should be enough. He may know art, but he doesn't know much of anything about baking or decorating. But then an opportunity arises....teams are formed...and a competition takes place. 

My thoughts: What I liked best about this one was seeing the country puppies come and visit. Lafayette's pup, Leon, and Napoleon's pup, Nadine. Napoleon and Lafayette offered great comic relief in the first film. True show-stealers, in my opinion. And it was fun to see these two make an appearance. Plus, they bring a bit of conflict--the conflict that leads to a biscuit bake-off.

I liked this one. I didn't love, love, love it. But I solidly liked it. 

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

102. Welcome to the Creature Cafe

Welcome to the Creature Cafe (The Aristokittens #1) Jennifer Castle. 2022. 128 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: On a bright, warm morning in Paris, inside a grand mansion on a cobblestone street, three kittens sat looking up at a big wooden door. Their tails swished nervously back and forth. 

Premise/plot: Welcome to the Creature Cafe is a sequel to Disney's The Aristocats. Marie, Toulouse and Berlioz star in this early [illustrated] chapter book for young readers. These three kittens are inspired to open, or re-open, the Creature Cafe. They stumble across an abandoned restaurant--the Creature Cafe--and learn its history. It is a restaurant for....you guessed it...animals. They want to re-open the restaurant (and rename it). But running a restaurant may not be as easy as they initially think....especially when you're a kitten.

My thoughts: I liked this one okay. BUT. I was disappointed primarily because I think my expectations were way too high. The Aristocats is one of my all-time favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite movies. Seriously. I love just about everything from the movie. (Almost everything. Not quite.) And so I wanted this sequel to be magical....or special. It didn't quite live up to the movie. But if you pick up the book with reasonable expectations or even low expectations, I think it could prove charming. And for the right readers, I think this could work.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Book Hog

The Book Hog. Greg Pizzoli. 2019. Disney-Hyperion. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The Book Hog loved books. And he had quite a few. He loved the way they smelled, and the way the pages felt in his hooves. He especially liked the ones with pictures.

Premise/plot: The Book Hog loves, loves, loves books. That means he loves to read, right? Maybe. Maybe not. Could the Book Hog have a secret?! If he does--and he does--this one may just have an oh-so-satisfying ending.

My thoughts: I loved this one. The Book Hog has a secret: though he loves books and stories he doesn't know how to read. But with a little help and some time he may just learn how to read. He may love books even more than before....

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

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: 1 Grumpy Bruce

1 Grumpy Bruce: A Counting Board Book. Ryan T. Higgins. 2018. Disney-Hyperion. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: 1 Grumpy bear, 2 uninvited skunks, 3 mice throwing a party, 4 geese helping...

Premise/plot: BRUCE is ONE grumpy bear. He is NOT having a good day. Will he still be grumpy at the end of the book?!

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved Ryan T. Higgins' Mother Bruce. If you haven't read that picture book, you should seek it out. It's WONDERFUL. I really enjoyed revisiting this character in this counting board book. Bruce is a FABULOUS character. The illustrations are super-fun.

© 2019 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

Papillon: The Very Fluffy Kitty

The Very Fluffy Kitty, Papillon. A.N. Kang. 2016. Disney-Hyperion. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Papillon is a big kitty. He is not fat. Just very fluffy. I mean FLUFFY! He is lighter than air, which can get him into trouble.

Premise/plot: Papillon is one FLUFFY cat. Miss Tilly, his owner, worries that he might FLOAT away. She is always coming up with a new way to weigh this kitten down and keep him grounded. But. Papillon isn't always receptive to her ideas. Can Miss Tilly and Papillon come to agreement on the situation? Papillon may change his mind once he gets lost....

My thoughts: This book is ADORABLE. I love, love, love the illustrations. The concept of the story is whimsical and delightful. This fluffy cat has a bigger adventure than he bargained for. Luckily, a new friend saves the day. I would recommend this one to cat lovers of all ages.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Aristocats: A Counting Book

The Aristocats: A Counting Book. Walt Disney Productions Presents. 1970. Whitman Tell-a-Tale Book. 26 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: 1 One lovely mother cat sitting in the sun, purring purrs, licking fur--ONE, ONE, ONE. Her name is Duchess. 2 Here's a little lady kitten singing songs for you, singing with her mother cat--TWO, TWO, TWO. Her name is Marie. 3 Well, look! A brother kitten comes to practice with Marie while Duchess helps them learn the tunes--THREE, THREE, THREE. His name is Berlioz. Another brother kitten's here, painting on the floor, painting all his family--FOUR, FOUR, FOUR. Toulouse is his name.

Premise/plot: This counting book features the stars of the Disney movie Aristocats. The retelling is a bit forced in places since it is a COUNTING book and not a regular story book. And this retelling also isn't true to the movie!

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, CRAZY LOVE the movie Aristocats. When I saw this book, I had to have it.

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

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers