Board book: Goodnight, Starry Night

Goodnight, Starry Night (Peek-a-boo Art) Amy Guglielmo and Julie Appel. 2019. [October 15] Scholastic. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Goodnight glowing moon up high.../ Goodnight stars. Goodnight sky.

Premise/plot: Love reading? Love art? This rhyming board book combines ART with the oh-so-familiar game of peek-a-boo. And if that wasn't enough, it is also a lovely bedtime book! So the art being shared with little ones:

• Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night
• Berthe Morisot's The Cradle
• Henri Rousseau's The Sleeping Gypsy
• Franz Marc's The White Cat
• Diego Rivera's Delfina and Dimas
• Vincent van Gogh's The Bedroom

 The book ends with a smidge of information about each artist.

My thoughts: This was a lovely, charming book. I would have loved it even without the peek-a-boo feature. The rhyming text goes so well with the artwork they've selected to highlight. Many pages--though not all--feature a die-cut that allows a peek-a-boo effect with each piece of art. The text is definitely art-driven!

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

A Friend for Dragon

A Friend for Dragon. (Dragon #1) Dav Pilkey. 2019. Scholastic. 64 pages. [Source: Review copy]

 First sentence: There once was a blue dragon who lived in a little house all by himself. Sometimes Dragon got lonely. "I wish I had a friend," said Dragon. So he went out into the world to look for a friend.

Premise/plot: Dragon is a lovable character created by Dav Pilkey. This is his first book; it is an early chapter book. Dragon is LONELY, oh-so-lonely. His first few attempts at making a friend fail. It seems, at first, that he will always be lonely and friendless. Then he meets APPLE...Is Apple the PERFECT friend for a Dragon?
Perhaps.

My thoughts: This one is super, super, super silly. Dragon is foolish and gullible...but he's also LOVABLE and KIND. I don't love, love, love this one as much as Dragon's FAT CAT but I do like it. I think I liked it more the second time than the first time. So maybe it just has to grow on you.


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Pug Blasts Off (Diary of a Pug #1)

Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off (Pug #1) Kyla May. 2019. Scholastic. 80 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Dear Diary, Baron Von Bubbles here. But everyone calls me Bub. Here are some things to know about me: I always dress to impress. I make many different faces: belly rub face, have to go out face, really have to go out face, face for Duchess. (She acts like she owns the place.) Face for Nutz. (He steals my stuff all the time.) Here are some of my favorite things: My skateboard. Bear. Peanut butter.

Premise/plot: Readers meet Bub and Bella in this first book in a new series published by Scholastic. Bella is super-excited to be participating in an inventing challenge competition. But inventing something new and exciting is tough work. Especially with Bub, Duchess, and a crazy squirrel running around. When Bella's first invention goes amiss, can Bub help save the day?!

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I did. I thought Bub was adorable. I was glad that there was also a cat in the series. The series is in a heavily illustrated notebook format. It makes for a quick and cutesy read. The art is bold, colorful, and CUTESY.

It is similar to the Owl Diaries series, in my opinion.

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Dragon's Fat Cat

Dragon's Fat Cat (Dragon #2) Dav Pilkey. 2019. (1992) Scholastic. 64 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: One snowy day in January, Dragon heard a funny noise. "Meow!" "That sounds like a cat," said Dragon.

Premise/plot: Dragon makes a new friend in this early chapter book by Dav Pilkey. That friend is, you guessed it, a cat, a FAT, GRAY CAT. There are five chapters in this one:

• "Meow!" 
• Life With Cat
• Problems
• Left Behind
• Home Again

In the first chapter, Dragon meets a fat, gray cat and invites him inside.

In the second chapter, Dragon takes the cat inside and names him, "Cat." Dragon prepares a special bed for his new friend/pet. (The Cat takes Dragon's bed.)

In the third chapter, readers learn just how much Dragon does NOT know about owning a cat.
(Dragon does NOT know that his cat needs a litter box, for example.) He eventually finds himself at a pet store.

In the fourth chapter, Dragon realizes that he left Cat behind at the pet store. He must find and "rescue" Cat. When he finds Cat, he finds a big surprise! The reason why Cat was so FAT...

In the fifth chapter, Dragon returns home with Cat and her kittens. He starts preparing beds for all the little ones--he's named each one KITTY. Will Cat and kittens sleep in their beds?! Or will they still have ownership of Dragon's big bed?!

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, loved, CRAZY-LOVED this one. I enjoyed the writing very much. It was funny.

Dragon liked living with Cat,
and Cat liked living with Dragon.
But Dragon did not know
how to take care of Cat.
He did not know how to train Cat.
That was a problem.
Dragon did not know what to feed Cat.
That was a big problem.
And Dragon did not know what to do
about all the yellow puddles Cat made.
That was a smelly problem.

 I think this one will hold great appeal for young readers. I first read and reviewed this one in 2009. It has been newly republished this year. 

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: I Love Mozart!

I Love Mozart: My First Sound Book. Marion Billet. 2019. Scholastic. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Let's celebrate Mozart's music!

Premise/plot: This board book "introduces" little ones to six selections of classical music from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The songs included are: "Sonata for Violin and Piano," "Clarinet Concerto," "Sonata Facile," "Symphony No. 40," "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik," and "Twelve Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

My thoughts: One of my favorite things about this one is that there is an off/on switch. Board books with batteries are tricky. On the one hand, they are usually fun. On the other hand, the batteries won't last all that long. The more beloved a book is, the quicker the battery dies. Then it is just SAD, SAD, super-sad. Little fingers can touch the 'buttons' on each spread to start and stop the music. Each song lasts under a minute.


Mozart is my favorite composer.


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Festival of Mud

Board book: Peppa Pig: Festival of Mud. 2019. Scholastic. 12 pages. Scholastic. [Review copy]

First sentence: Peppa is going to the Children's Festival. She's so excited! It's a big outdoor party with lots to see and do.

Premise/plot: Looking for a book that doubles as a toy? Or perhaps you'd prefer a toy that doubles as a book? Do you have a little one who could watch Peppa Pig for hours? This one isn't quite a proper-proper book. It is one that is mainly for PLAYING. It is a Water Wonder book; little ones can "color" each page with water...again and again and again and again.

The narrative--though flimsy--is that Peppa Pig is at a festival with her family and friends. This festival will have them camping overnight.

My thoughts: I do like the show Peppa Pig. I do. Some books are better than others. Some are truly entertaining and worth reading again and again. Other books tend to be more junky. That being said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with activity books to engage little ones. And since it involves WATER and not actual paint, it's not horribly messy and inconvenient.

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


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Dream Big

Board book: Dream Big. Joyce Wan. 2019. Scholastic. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Dream big, dream high, dream brave dreams.

Premise/plot: This inspirational board book features female trailblazers--dreamers. Each page features a dream-themed inspiration--"dream wild," "dream probabilities" etc. The illustration provides a clue to the trailblazer. Hidden within each illustration is the name of the woman. The last spread gives mini bios for the women included. (Zaha Hadid, Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, Valentina Tereshkova, Maya Angelou, Jane Goodall, Florence Griffith Joyner, Eugenie Clark, Frida Kahlo, Ellen Degeneres, Junko Tabei, Rosa Parks, Katherine Johnson, Chien-Shiung Wu, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, and "you.")

My thoughts: If they were really going to end the book with a "YOU" message...perhaps a mirror would have been appropriate?! Just a thought. I didn't dislike this one. I didn't. But I didn't love, love, love it either.

The text can easily be read on its own without bringing up the featured real-life women. The amount of detail you want to bring into the conversation is completely up to you--the parent or guardian. The mini biographies give you just the tiniest bit of information. Not nearly enough to educate parents with those they may be unfamiliar with. Yes, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, Jane Goodall, Maya Angelou, Harriet Tubman may be known well enough to further the discussion. But chances are that some of these trailblazers will be new to you. (I don't know about you, but I am not well-versed in architects, mountain climbers, and nuclear physicists.)

I think these women are worthy of talking about, learning about, etc. I'm just not convinced that toddlers and preschoolers are ready to dig in and learn about history in a meaningful way. (The text is simple enough that it's essentially a non-issue unless you want to add your own commentary to the text.)



© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Let's Play, Crabby!

Let's Play, Crabby! (Crabby #2) Jonathan Fenske. 2019. Scholastic. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Today is just another day at the beach.

Premise/plot: Jonathan Fenske has a new early reader series starring Crabby and his friends. The first book in the series was Hello, Crabby! The second book is Let's Play, Crabby! In this one, Plankton persists in wanting to play with Crabby. As persistent as Plankton is in their friendship, Crabby is resistant. The first chapter, "The Guess," has them playing GUESS WHO. The second, "The Game" has them playing Simon Says--I mean Crabby Says. The third, "The Other Game" has them playing Hide and Seek. The fourth, "The Other Other Game" has them playing TAG.

My thoughts: BARNACLE IS BORED is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite stories to read aloud. I just love it. I enjoyed Plankton is Pushy. I would definitely recommend this series of books. I liked both Hello, Crabby! and Let's Play, Crabby! I believe other books are soon to be published in this series. Of course, I will read them all. I would love to see Barnacle make a special appearance in the next book. He was sadly missing from Let's Play, Crabby.

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Future Astronaut

Future Astronaut. Lori Alexander. Illustrated by Allison Black. 2019. Scholastic. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Ground control to Major Baby: Could you be an astronaut?

Premise/plot: Does BABY have what it takes to be an astronaut? Through a series of checks, BABY is put to the test. 

Astronauts can swim--even in their flight gear.
Baby swims with gear, too.
Astronauts live and work in small spaces.
Small spaces are Baby's favorite places!

My thoughts: I thought this one was ADORABLE and FACT-FILLED. I enjoyed reading it.

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


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Unicorn and Yeti 2: A Good Team

A Good Team (Unicorn and Yeti #2) Heather Ayris Burnell. Illustrated by Hazel Quintanilla. 2019. Scholastic. 64 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Unicorn saw Yeti kick the ball.

Premise/plot: The first book in the series is Sparkly New Friends. This second book features three more adventures: "The Ball," "A Race," and "On Ice." In chapter one, the two friends TRY to play ball together. But can unicorn catch and throw a ball?! In chapter two, the two friends race each other. But can Yeti run as fast as unicorn? In chapter three, the two friends go ice skating--a new activity for both of them. Can unicorn ice skate? How about Yeti?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I don't know if my favorite story was the one about playing ball or ice skating. But it definitely was not the racing one. Still two out of three isn't bad when it comes to stories. I don't know that I love this series enough to want there to be thirty books in the series....but I wouldn't mind a few more.

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Unicorn and Yeti #1 Sparkly New Friends

Sparkly New Friends (Unicorn and Yeti #1) Heather Ayris Burnell. Illustrated by Hazel Quintanilla. 2019. Scholastic. 64 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Unicorn saw something sparkly.

Premise/plot: Scholastic is publishing a new early chapter book series titled UNICORN and YETI. Sparkly New Friends is the first in that series; there are three stories within the book: "Something Sparkly," "An Amazing Friend," and "Snowball Fight." In the first story, Unicorn and Yeti meet each other and become friends. In the second story, the two friends learn more about one another. Yeti, at first, seems a bit jealous of Unicorn's sparkly, magical fanciness. But Yeti is special in different ways. In the third story, the two try to have a snowball fight. It was Yeti's idea; Unicorn isn't so sure about this! IT is not easy to roll a snowball or throw it when you don't have hands.

My thoughts: I liked this one. It will definitely appeal to unicorn lovers in a certain age group. (Though unicorn lovers come in all age groups.) The last page is a bonus that will surely appeal to fans: HOW TO DRAW A UNICORN.


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Hello, Crabby!

Hello, Crabby! (Book #1) Jonathan Fenske. 2019. Scholastic. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Today is just another day at the beach.

Premise/plot: Hello, Crabby! is a new early reader series by Jonathan Fenske. There are several stories in this one: "The Beach" (which guest stars BARNACLE from Barnacle is Bored), "The Crabby Crab," "The Joke," and "The Cake." (The last three guest star PLANKTON from Plankton is Pushy.) The stories are delightfully silly. For example, in "The Beach," Barnacle is trying to warn his friend that a WAVE is coming. Crabby thinks that Barnacle is wanting him to wave at him. Needless to say CRABBY gets hit by the wave. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Plankton pushes his way into THREE stories while poor Barnacle is only in one.

My thoughts: BARNACLE IS BORED is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite stories to read aloud. I just love it. I enjoyed Plankton is Pushy. So I was THRILLED when I realized that Hello, Crabby! is by Jonathan Fenske. I would definitely recommend this early reader.



© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Peppa In Space

Peppa In Space. Adapted by Reika Chan. Eone (Illustrated). 2019. Scholastic. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

 First sentence: It is a sunny day. Peppa is playing with her bouncy ball outside. George and his friend, Edmond Elephant, are playing with their space toys. They are pretending that they are on the moon!

Premise/plot: Peppa Pig and her family go to the museum to experience an exhibit on space.

My thoughts: Here are a few things you should know:

• Glitter, glitter everywhere on the cover of this picture book. 
• It features PEPPA PIG, a character from a TV show.
• You have to search to find an author's name to attribute the text to.
• It includes stickers.

I really enjoy the Peppa Pig show. I do. I have very fond memories of it. Some Peppa Pig books are better than others.

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

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Ready, Set, Drive!

Ready, Set, Drive! (Paw Patrol Drive the Vehicle) Courtney Carbone. 2019. Scholastic. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Can you help the PAW Patrol race to the rescue?

Premise/plot: This one does not have an overall story. (Don't die of surprise, please) Every spread is a different scenario. The first scenario:

Paw Patrol, there's been a rockslide on the old trestle bridge. A train is trapped! Rubble, I need you and your bulldozer to scoop the boulders off the track. 

Each scenario offers readers an opportunity to "drive" one of the vehicles. The dashboard of each vehicle is a pop-up.

My thoughts: Does your little one love, love, love the Paw Patrol? Does your little one have a favorite pup? This one is a toy--let's just be honest and up front about that. There is a flimsy story on each spread, but that's about it in terms of story. Little ones may even want to make up their own stories--additional stories--if they enjoy "driving" the vehicles.



© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Pups Save a Pinata

Paw Patrol Water Wonder: Pups Save a Pinata. 2019. Scholastic. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: It's almost time for Alex's birthday party.

Premise/plot: Mayor Humdinger steals Alex's pinata. Can the pups save the day? Will Alex have a happy birthday?

My thoughts: As an adult it is easy to dismiss this book as more toy than book. But children do sometimes needs a distraction. And parents sometimes--if not always--prefer distractions that are not messy. This one allows children to "paint" in color with just water. And it's reusable. So there is that. 

If your little one loves Paw Patrol, this might be a good treat.

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Baby Love

Baby Love. Sandra Magsamen. 2019. Scholastic. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: What did the mommy bunny say to her baby bunny? You're some bunny special.

Premise/plot: Baby Love is a board book with a mirror.

My thoughts: The text of this one is formulaic and predictable. A mommy animal is professing her love to her baby on every single page. The animals are all ones you'd expect to find in a board book: bunny, elephant, cat, and dog. The last spread, of course, is not an animal at all. It features the mirror. (Babies do love mirrors.)

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

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

This Is My Fort

This Is MY Fort! (Monkey and Cake #2) Drew Daywalt. Illustrated by Olivier Tallec. 2019. [February] 56 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Hello, Cake. Hello, Monkey. What are you doing? I am making a fort.

Premise/plot: Monkey and Cake are friends, best friends. In their second adventure, Cake is making a fort. Before Monkey even asks if he can play in the fort, Cake states:

I am making a fort to keep out Monkeys. No monkeys are allowed in my fort.

 Does Monkey get upset and throw a fit? Does he fight his way into Cake's fort? Does he call names? NO. No. No. Monkey gets clever.

The wall to your little fort is also the wall to my "rest of the world" fort.

 Will Cake realize that his way of playing fort is no fun at all? Will Cake want to join Monkey in his fort?

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this second adventure. (The first adventure is WHAT IS INSIDE THIS BOX?) The back and forth dialogue is fun. (Perhaps a tiny bit repetitive, but still fun.) I think most--if not all--can relate to this story. It is a story about forts, playing forts. But it is also a story about inclusion and exclusion. It's no fun being left out and excluded. It offers a different perspective on play. For example, the wall that keeps Monkey out of Cake's 'no monkey' fort, is also a wall keeping him [Cake] inside. It's a wall between him and the rest of the world.


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Will Giraffe Laugh?

Will Giraffe Laugh? Hilary Leung. 2019. [January 29] Scholastic. 38 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Giraffe is grumpy. His friends want to cheer him up...but will Giraffe laugh?

Premise/plot: Giraffe's friends are trying really, really hard to cheer him up. Will they be successful in cheering him up? It may not be as easy as you'd think. He's SUPER grumpy.

My thoughts: I love this one. I have really enjoyed his previous books. If your little one has also enjoyed Will Bear Share?, Will Sheep Sleep?, and Will Ladybug Hug?, then you must seek out Will Giraffe Laugh? All these board books share an adorable cast of animal friends. I think I love these characters a little more with each new book.


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Real Stories From My Time: Pearl Harbor

Nanea, Real Stories From My Time: Pearl Harbor (American Girl) Jennifer Swanson. 2018. Scholastic. 112 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:  When most people think of Hawaii, they picture a lush, tropical island with miles of sandy beaches and palm trees swaying in the warm breeze--and that picture is pretty accurate!

Premise/plot: This AmericanGirl chapter book blends nonfiction and fiction together to teach young readers about the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The first three chapters give young readers a background on Hawaii. The remaining chapters focus on the attack itself and the aftermath.

Most chapters include a brief section set apart as Nanea's Story. This fiction story is set in a different font. There's no mistaking what is fiction and what is nonfiction in this one.

My thoughts: I haven't read many--if any--American Girl chapter books. I liked this one. Part of me can't help wishing that it was all nonfiction or all fiction. The Magic Treehouse series, I believe, often has a fiction book and a nonfiction companion book that go together.

Original audience born circa 2009 to 2011. 

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Can You See What I See? Christmas

Can You See What I See? Christmas. Walter Wick. 2015. Scholastic. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Can you see a basket, a chick, and 2 bears? Can you see a dog, a pig, and 2 chairs?

Premise/plot: Walter Wick has written MANY 'can you see' books for children. Most of these books are picture books or early readers, however. This one is in board book format for younger readers.

My thoughts: I have a confession. I am HORRIBLE at these types of books. In particular, I am terrible at finding Waldo in just about every 'Where's Waldo?' book that has been published. But this one seems to be much easier. In fact, some of them are easy enough to be obvious even to me.
 

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers