Binky Under Pressure

Binky Under Pressure. Ashley Spires. 2011. Kids Can. 64 pages.

This is the third graphic novel for young readers in the Binky series. And I did enjoy it. I'm not sure that I loved it as much as the first adventure--when Binky was such a surprise, such a delight. But I definitely am always excited to see a new Binky adventure. I love this cat, I do. I love seeing him "fight" aliens and "protect" his humans. I love seeing the world through his eyes. There's just something funny about reading something from a cat's perspective! (Maybe not every reader agrees.)

In this third adventure, Binky faces new dangers. There's a NEW CAT in his house space station--a feline named Gracie. And her presence changes everything. She is eating HIS food, drinking HIS water, playing with his toys, getting his humans attention, etc. So he does what he can to discourage her, but it may not be easy to intimidate her, because she may just be a cat on a mission!

Is Gracie a friend or foe? Is she on his side ready to battle aliens and protect the space station? Or could she be an enemy robot controlled by the aliens?

I liked this one. It was funny and clever. The first adventure is Binky the Space Cat. The second is Binky to the Rescue.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Reaching

Reaching. Judy Ann Sadler. Illustrated by Susan Mitchell. 2011. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.

Mama is reaching
Lifts Baby up high
She swings him and sings him
A sweet lullaby.


Daddy is reaching 
To kiss Baby's nose
He laughs and he tickles
Plump tummy and toes.


Sister is reaching
Wants in on the huddle
More kisses and tickles--
A fun family cuddle.

I love this one. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. Is it sweet? Yes. Is it precious? Yes. Is it too cute for its own good? I don't think so. I *know* everyone has their own cute-tolerance. And, for some, a sweet picture book can become sickeningly sweet. But for me, Reaching is JUST RIGHT.

Reaching is about a family welcoming a new baby--a new baby boy--into the family. EVERY member of the family is excited--thrilled--with his arrival. They just can't get enough of their dear, dear, sweet baby boy. But this isn't exactly a book about a 'newborn' baby. The baby is seen sitting and taking some small steps, etc. Instead it is a celebration of life, of love, of family.

I love the text. I love the rhyming. I know I can be a bit picky when it comes to rhymes. Something either works for me, or it doesn't. But in this case, I thought it was just about right, just about perfect.

And the illustrations. I am ABSOLUTELY loving the illustrations. I just LOVE them. They're super-sweet, super-cute. Just delightful!

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


© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

My Name is Elizabeth!

My Name is Elizabeth! Annika Dunklee. Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe. 2011. Kids Can Press. 24 pages.

My name is Elizabeth.
I really like my name. I like that it's nine letters long.
And I like all the neat things my mouth does when I say it.
I also like that there is a queen named after me!
But I don't like it when people call me names other than Elizabeth.

Don't dare call this Elizabeth Betsy, Liz, Lizzy, Beth, or Eliza. She is ELIZABETH. Can this little girl convince the people in her life--her family, her friends, her classmates and teachers, her neighbors, to get her name right?!

I liked this one. I did. I thought it was cute and clever. I won't say that I loved it. But it was fun!

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Busy Beaver

The Busy Beaver. Nicholas Oldland. 2011. Kids Can Press. 32 pages. 

There once was a beaver who was so busy that he didn't always think things through. This beaver's carelessness was becoming a problem. His dams leaked, and he always made a mess of the forest--he left trees half-chewed, and worse, he felled more than he needed. Perhaps worst of all, the beaver went about his work with so little thought that a tree landed right on top of a bear. And once he even chewed a moose's leg thinking it was a tree. The beaver was just that careless.

Beaver is so busy being busy that he's become horribly careless. He's careless with his friends. He's careless with nature. But there is a price he has to pay for being so careless--he ends up in the hospital. Will his time mending teach him to slow down and do things right?

I did not really like this one. I didn't hate it. It just felt too like it was too much of a lesson.

Text: 2 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Call of the Cowboy

The Call of the Cowboy. David Bruins. Illustrated by Hilary Leung. 2011. Kids Can Press.  32 pages.

The cowboy was a good friend to the ninja and the bear. He was kind. He was caring. He was fun. He was funny. But sometimes he could cause a ruckus. One day his noisiness came between him and his friends...

I definitely enjoyed the first two books in this series: The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear and The Way of the Ninja. So I was happy to see the release of a third book. All three books are about friendships: how to be a friend, how to keep a friend, etc.

Cowboy can be a fun friend, it's true. But sometimes he can be a little TOO LOUD. Sometimes he doesn't know how to be quiet, OR in other words, sometimes he doesn't know how to respect his friends wish for peace and quiet. Ninja, for example, wanted to read a book. But Cowboy--without exactly meaning to disturb the peace--was making it too hard for him to concentrate and appreciate the book. Bear, for example, wanted to take photographs of birds. But Cowboy didn't know that his noise would keep Bear from getting the photographs he wanted.

Will Cowboy learn his lesson? Can he come to like and appreciate silence?

I liked this one. Yes, it's all about a lesson or moral. But I like the three friends.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Welcome to the World

Welcome to the World by Valerie Wyatt. Photographs by Lennette Newell. 2011. Kids Can Press. 24 pages.

Dear Baby,
Welcome to the world and all its wonders. You will feel the sun on your skin and be warmed by it. You will see light chase darkness as clouds pass by. You will hear the wind in the trees and feel cool raindrops. You will see flowers in bloom and smell their sweet scent...

If you love looking at lovely photographs of babies, then you may enjoy this little picture book. The photographs are lovely. I could look at photos of babies all day long. There's just something adorable and sweet and precious about it all. The text itself is a 'welcome' message of sorts, introducing babies (supposedly) to the world around them. There is a strong emphasis on nature.

This one is not a board book. It is a 'delicate' book in that its pages could be ripped by young hands. So your audience needs to be young enough so that they are not reaching and grabbing or chewing and sucking. OR old enough that they know how to treat books well--gently.


I don't think the text of this one is 'entertaining' enough for preschoolers to appreciate or enjoy.(Because the text isn't a story so much as it is a sentimental letter.) Though of course that depends on YOUR child. I think the text may appeal more to adults--because it means something more to adults.

Text: 2 out of 5
Photographs: 4 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Small Saul

Small Saul. Ashley Spires. 2011. March 2011. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.

Small Saul loved the sea. He loved its vastness, its calmness, its blueness.

Small Saul wants to be a pirate--a real pirate. But he's not only small--much, much smaller than your average pirate, he's also different, you might say special. Small Saul does not have the strengths generally associated with pirates. He has his own way of seeing the world, his own way of doing things. And the other pirates, well, they don't always understand Small Saul. In fact, most of the time, they don't understand him at all. Can Small Saul find his own place on the pirate ship? Can Small Saul's uniqueness be a blessing instead of a curse?

I liked this one. I didn't love it. Not like I loved Ashley Spires' Binky the Space Cat books. But it was fun; it was enjoyable.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Without You

Without You. Genevieve Cote. 2011. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.


Stop! You're going to fast!
Step back! This is a racing track!
You're so careless!
You fuss over any little mess!
I don't want to play with you anymore.
Fine! I won't miss you at all.

The super-adorable stars of Me and You are back again in Genevieve Cote's Without You. The book features a white bunny and pink pig that are best friends. Well, best friends most days of the week. But after an "accident" with a wagon full of toys, their friendship is put to the test as each accuses the other. Soon these two are naming all the things they can do without the other. Proving that they don't need each other to have fun. Showing that they're just fine on their own.

Well, I can read a book without you.
And I can cook without you.
I can play dress-up without you.
I can go to the park without you.

But after awhile, both realize something: they miss each other; they need each other. I enjoyed this one very much. I just loved and adored the first book. And I found this second book just as charming. It's got a good message about friendship, about getting along with others, but it isn't preachy. It just felt right.

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

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party

Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party. Melanie Watt. 2011. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.

Scaredy Squirrel never has big birthday parties. He'd rather celebrate alone quietly up in his tree than party below and risk being taken by surprise. A few surprises Scaredy Squirrel is afraid could spoil the party: Bigfoot, confetti, clownfish, ants, ponies, and porcupines. So he plans a small celebration where he's the only life of the party. 

To know him is to love him, at least for me. I always enjoy a good Scaredy Squirrel picture book. He's a delightfully timid--and anxious--character. His fears may not be rational--but who are we to judge?! After all, how rational is it to be afraid of clowns? Yet a good many of us are! Anyway, I love Scaredy Squirrel. I love his "plans." I love how he tries to stay in control. I love his ultimate back-up plan--to play dead--to deal with the unknown, to deal with his fears. I love how things never go according to his plan. Like it or not, this squirrel is always having to adapt. And these "changes" may be "scary" at first, but ultimately, they're for the best.

This one was an enjoyable addition to the Scaredy Squirrel series. My review of Scaredy Squirrel, Scaredy Squirrel at Night, Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Binky To The Rescue

Binky to the Rescue. Ashley Spires. 2010. Kids Can Press. 64 pages.

Another one got in.
It's the third alien today.
But it will not escape.
Binky is an official certified space cat.
His ongoing mission is to protect his space station from alien invasion.
Even if it means dealing with...
One alien at a time.
Lately, Binky has intensified his patrolling duties.
His speed...his agility...and his super fighting skills...require all his focus.

Binky is back in his second adventure. His first, Binky the Space Cat, I just LOVED! I wasn't expecting a sequel, so I was thrilled when I received a copy of Binky To The Rescue. What will this certified space kitty do in his second adventure? Will it be just as cute, just as funny?

I wasn't disappointed. Binky faces a great danger--not once but twice--in Binky to the Rescue. He faces the dangers of outer space. For those that haven't read the first book, outer space--to Binky at least--is outside. In Binky To The Rescue, Binky accidentally leaves his space station (the house). And it is quite scary--let me tell you--Binky does not like it one little bit. Fortunately, his owner notices he's missing and rescues him--just in time! But when he realizes that his friend, his companion, his copilot is missing (Ted the Mousie), it's time for this kitty to get brave. Ted must be rescued! He must! Face his fears, he will. Can Binky save Ted? Can he find his way outdoors again?

I would definitely recommend both Binky books. These graphic novels are very fun!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Spork

Spork. Kyo Iona Maclear. Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. 2010. Kids Can Press.  32 pages.

Spork was neither spoon nor fork...
but a bit of both.
He had a mum and a dad...
who both thought he was perfect
just the way he was.
But Spork stuck out.
In his kitchen, forks were forks and spoons were spoons.

Spork is a book with a message--but I think I like it anyway. (I wouldn't say love.) Spork doesn't fit in with the forks or the spoons. He doesn't like being alone, being the one-and-only. He doesn't feel needed or wanted. The forks and spoons are always getting used; they are always in service. But who needs a spork?! But when Spork meets a "messy thing" (a baby) he may have found his perfect match, his reason for being.

It's a silly story--absurd in a way--yet it works in a strange way.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Way of the Ninja

Ninja Cowboy Bear Presents The Way of the Ninja. David Bruins. Illustrated by Hilary Leung. 2010. September 2010. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.

The ninja loved to spend time with his friends the cowboy and the bear.
When they got together it usually led to merrymaking, buffoonery and hilarity.
But not always. Sometimes they did not agree on what was fun. The ninja had his own way of having fun. It often included thrills and adventure.

I really enjoyed The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear. So I was happy to see that there was a second book. Once again, an important lesson is shared about friendship. Ninja, one of the three friends, is selfish. He wants to do what he wants to do. And he isn't the best at listening to his friends. At being sympathetic and understanding. Because he wants to jump on the bed, the cowboy ends up seeing stars. Because he wants to climb trees, Bear ends up being chased by bees. Will Ninja learn how to be a better friend? Will Bear and Cowboy forgive their friend for being so insensitive and rude?

I liked this one.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Scaredy Squirrel At The Beach

Scaredy Squirrel At The Beach. Melanie Watt. 2008. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.

Scaredy Squirrel never goes to the beach. He'd rather vacation at home alone where it's safe than risk being surrounded by the wrong crowd.

To avoid encountering the wrong kinds of crowds, Scaredy Squirrel plans on making his own private beach, right at the bottom of his nice happy nut tree. True, kitty litter doesn't have quite the same feel as sand. But still, a few sacrifices must be made for safety, right? But there is one thing his beach needs--really needs to be complete. Seashells. What's a squirrel to do? This one heads off to the real beach to get a few. To bring home. What will he learn along the way?

This one is funny and cute. I definitely liked it!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Scaredy Squirrel

Scaredy Squirrel. Melanie Watt. 2008. Kids Can Press. 42 pages.

Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. He'd rather stay in his safe and familiar tree than risk venturing out into the unknown. The unknown can be a scary place for a squirrel.

I really liked this picture book. I liked Scaredy Squirrel a lot. I could relate to him in some ways. Because the unknown can be a bit scary. Readers may not share Scaredy Squirrels exact fears--green Martians, killer bees, tarantulas, poison ivy, germs, and sharks--but chances are they can relate to fearing something. Scaredy Squirrel is thrust into an adventure and forced into facing the unknown. And he learns that sometimes fears are just silly, and that life is meant to be enjoyed, to be lived. Out of the nut tree.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

My Name is Phillis Wheatley

My Name is Phillis Wheatley: A Story of Slavery and Freedom. Afua Cooper. 2009. Kids Can Press. 152 pages.

The green silk gown does me well, likewise the white bonnet. My mistress had insisted that I dress plainly.

A fictional account (I'm assuming) of the life of poet Phillis Wheatley. Covering her childhood through her death, it tells the bittersweet story of a slave girl whose poems were published. It tells of her struggles and heartaches. Too "genius" to mix with the slaves, too "inferior" to mix with the whites, her life definitely knew of loneliness. Even though her master and mistress were kind (relatively speaking) never for a minute does the reader get the idea, the impression, that being a slave was a good thing. (She was freed after her book was published, by the way).

I found this one to be emotional and powerful in places. The description of her crossing is especially moving.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Chester's Back

Chester's Back! Not a Melanie Watt Book. (By Melanie Watt) 2008. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.

A long time ago, in a faraway land, lived a cat named Chester.

Chester is back for his second adventure. And this playful cat is anything but cooperative for author Melanie Watt. Will this story ever get written? Will it ever have a middle and an end? Or will Chester keep frustrating the creative process? One thing is for sure, Chester is convinced he's destined for great things, he's the star of the show. And he doesn't want readers to forget it!

While I haven't read the first, it didn't keep me from enjoying the second very much. Perhaps loving Chester requires a certain personality, but I think it's cute and playful and all in good fun!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mattoo, Let's Play!

Mattoo, Let's Play! Irene Luxbacher. 2010. [February 2010] Kids Can Press. 32 pages.

My Mattoo is a shy cat. He never wants to play. I don't know why I'm a very friendly person.

I really liked this one. It's about a little girl with a big personality having trouble playing with her cat. She can't quite understand why her shy little kitten may not like everything she does. Can this little girl find the perfect way to play with her cat?
Is there hope for this relationship yet?

What I enjoyed about this one--besides the large personalities involved--are the illustrations. I just love how imaginative and playful they are. I love the tone they evoke. They really complement the story, the text so well. I love how the illustrations show imagination at work.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

C'Mere, Boy!

C'mere, Boy! By Sharon Jennings. Illustrated by Ashley Spires. 2010. [February 2010]. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.

Dog wanted a boy. He asked his mama, "Can we get a boy? Can we? Please? Can we?" Dog's mama looked around the doghouse and said, "We don't have room for a boy. And who would take care of him?"

Dog is a pup who really, really wants a Boy. A boy all his own. The text shows him to be desperate for a Boy. Some of these situations are so absurd because of the twist, but it works in its own odd little way.

For example,

On Friday, Dog told his mama he was going shopping. "I'm not coming home until I find a boy," he said. First, he went to the mall. A sign read, NO DOGS ALLOWED! Dog was ordered off the premises. Next Dog went to the park. A sign read, DOGS MUST BE ON A LEASH. Dog was chased away.

The twist, in case you couldn't tell, was that it is a dog wanting a boy instead of a boy wanting a dog. It's the dog who wants to own the boy, train the boy, love and feed the boy. Will this dog ever find a boy?

This one is a bit text-heavy in places. So depending on your little one's attention span, it might be for the older picture-book crowd. (Maybe Pre-K to K?)

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Kitten's Spring

Kitten's Spring. By Eugenie Fernandes. 2010. [February 2010] Kids Can Press. 24 pages.

Morning hums,
Kitten listens.
Frog croaks,
Tadpole glistens.

I like this one. I liked both the text and artwork in this one.It's simple. But it works. With just two short lines on each spread, it's great for reading to little ones. As a young kitten explores her surroundings, little ones are exposed to all sorts of animals--pairs of animals really: cows have calves, frogs have tadpoles, ducks have ducklings, etc. I definitely like the wonder of it. Seeing kitten's wonder at the world around her, the natural environment. It captures the newness of it all. The text has a poetic flow to it.

Chicken clucks,
Chick scratches.

Duck quacks,
Duckling hatches.

Eugenie Fernandes is a popular author-illustrator in Canada.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear

Bruins, David and Hilary Leung. 2009. Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear. Kids Can Press.

I had low expectations for this one. I'm not sure why. But--and this is a good but--I was pleasantly surprised by this little story. The book is about three friends: a ninja, a cowboy, and a bear. These three friends get along great--despite their differences--for a long time. Until one day, each starts thinking about which one is really best. There are a series of competitions and contests throughout the book. But--and you've probably guessed where this is going--they discover that everyone is best at something. They all have different strengths. There's something special and wonderful about each of them.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers