If You Love Dolphins, You Could Be...

If You Love Dolphins, You Could Be... May Nakamura. Illustrated by Matalie Kwee. 2019. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Do you love dolphins and other marine animals? Do you enjoy going to the beach and visiting aquariums?

Premise/plot: This is a nonfiction level two reader in a new series published by Simon & Schuster. The premise is simple: if you love dolphins, you could grow up to be... an aquatic veterinarian, a marine biologist, an underwater filmmaker. There's a chapter with loads of details for each job possibility.

My thoughts: I like both this one and If You Love Video Games, You Could Be... Both books, I believe, have great kid appeal. Nonfiction has certainly come a long way from when I was a kid.

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

If You Love Video Games You Could Be...

If You Love Video Games You Could Be... Thea Feldman. Illustrated by Natalie Kwee. 2019. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Do you love playing video games? If so you know that anything is possible when you're gaming. You can solve puzzles, fight monsters, and even build imaginary worlds.

Premise/plot: This is a nonfiction level two reader in a new series published by Simon & Schuster. The premise is simple: if you love video games, you could grow up to be... a video game writer, a video game animator, or a video game programmer. Each chapter includes details about that job.

My thoughts: I liked this one very much. I could see it appealing to children. Many--if not most--do love playing video games.


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: This Little Scientist: A Discovery Primer

This Little Scientist: A Discovery Primer. Joan Holub. Illustrated by Daniel Roode. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:

Asking why.
Then making a guess.
Asking how.
Then proving with tests.
Little scientists make great big discoveries.

Premise/plot: This board book introduces little ones to ten scientists, and it does so in rhyme. The ten scientists are as follows: Isaac Newton, Maria Sibylla Merian, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Grace Hopper, Katherine Johnson, Jane Goodall, Sau Lan Wu, Stephen Hawking, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

My thoughts: I liked this one. The book includes very basic facts about the scientists and their scientific discoveries. The rhyme worked for the most part.

This little scientist
studied outer space surprises
like mysterious black holes
that form in many sizes. 

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Little Rabbit

The Little Rabbit. Nicola Killen. 2019. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Ollie and her toy bunny had been waiting for the rain to stop for a long, long time.

Premise/plot: Ollie has quite an adventure with her bunny after the rain stops. But is her bunny a toy or a real bunny?

My thoughts: This little picture book is a lovely celebration of imagination. I enjoyed the text, I did. But I really loved, loved, loved the illustrations. Together the story they tell is fun.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: All Is Merry and Bright

All Is Merry and Bright. Jeffrey Burton. Illustrated by Don Clark. 2018. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:

THERE
IS A
FEELING
IN
THE
WORLD
WHEN
LIGHTS
SHINE
STREETS
ARE
FILLED
WITH
JOYFUL
SMILES
CHEER
AND
GOODWILL [...]

Premise/plot:  I don't know that there is a plot. The text is sparse--sparse and lovely. This should be considered an illustrated poem in board book format. 

My thoughts: This board book is oversized. The pages are super-thick--much thicker than your average board book. The illustrations are bold and bright--or should I say MERRY and bright. Many--if not all--of the illustrations are embossed. If your little ones love to TOUCH everything and get giddy from feeling certain textures, this one should please and delight.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Peaceful Rights for Equal Rights

Peaceful Rights for Equal Rights. Rob Sanders. Illustrated by Jared Andrew Schorr. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Assemble. Take action. Create allies. Make buttons. Make banners. Make bumper stickers, too. Boycott! Boycott! Boycott! Chant. Cheer. Call someone. Campaign. Camp out. Demonstrate. Don't give up. Don't give in. Educate. Encourage. Be fearless. Fly a flag. File a lawsuit. Have faith.

Premise/plot: This is another case of what you see is what you get. This politically-driven (or human-rights-driven) picture book isn't about any one issue or any one fight. It isn't set in the past, and it's not specifically about the civil rights movement. There is a timelessness to this one--it could be set anywhere, anytime, and be about anything.

My thoughts: Perhaps a better description of this one would be verb-driven. You can't fail to notice all the verbs--the emphasizing on action, on doing. It's also arranged alphabetically. There is more than one way to "fight" or to "protest."

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Hello Ninjas!

Hello Ninjas! Joan Holub. Illustrated by Chris Dickason. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:

Hello mask
Hello boots
Hello ninjas
wearing suits

Premise/plot: Ten ninjas are on a quest for TACO TREASURE. But will the Samurai get there first and take the tacos?

My thoughts: If I had to sum it up in one word: CONFUSED.  Clearly the book is teaching math facts--the ways to get to ten. 1+9, 2+8, 3+7, 4+6, 5+5. Clearly the book is doing this with NINJAS--ninja terms and themes. Clearly the author must love tacos--who doesn't love tacos? The book has humorous moments--a twist ending that resolves everything amicably. I'm just not sure it's for me. Then again, I am NOT the target audience in the first place.

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


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board books: Hello Knights

Hello Knights. Joan Holub. Illustrated by Chris Dickason. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:

Hello helmet
Hello knight
Hello armor shining bright
Knights run up
Knights run down
Take the queen the royal crown
Knights march here
Knights march there
Take the king his underwear

Premise/plot: This board book stars knights in a royal castle. But does it also star dragons?! Yes, yes it does!

My thoughts: I like it. I'm not sure I love, love, love it. (I don't there there is a bit of punctuation in the entire book.) I think rhyming works for the most part. The story was fun.

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


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Itsy Bitsy School Bus

The Itsy Bitsy School Bus. Jeffrey Burton. Illustrated by Sanja Rescek. 2018. Little Simon. 16 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The itsy bitsy school bus was ready for the day. Backpack was full with lunch and books, hooray! Dropped off at school, it was time to learn and play.

Premise/plot: This board book is meant to be sung to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider. It stars an 'itsy bitsy' school bus who is starting school. Will the bus like school or perhaps even love it?

My thoughts: I liked it okay. I did. It worked better as a song than I thought it would at first glance. When I get a book like this in the mail, my first response, if I'm honest, is to groan. It looks dinky. But not all books that look dinky are dinky.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Priscilla Gorilla

Priscilla Gorilla. Barbara Bottner. Illustrated by Michael Emberley. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:  When Priscilla turned six, her dad gave her a book called ALL ABOUT GORILLAS. They read it a million skillion times!

Premise/plot: Priscilla spends a LOT of time in her classroom's thinking corner. It could be because she's a HUGE distraction to the rest of her class. Priscilla is so completely-absolutely obsessed with gorillas that she does not want to learn, at least in a traditional sense of the word.

My thoughts: To teachers everywhere looking for a book besides Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes to read aloud at the start of the year, I give you Priscilla Gorilla.

I liked it. I'm not sure I loved, loved, loved it. Priscilla is an over-the-top character. It's just as easy to forgive her as to get mad at her in the first place. The book is cute.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Antlered Ship

The Antlered Ship. Dashka Slater. Illustrated by Eric and Terry Fan. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The day the antlered ship arrived, Marco wondered about the wide world. He had so many questions. Why do some songs make you happy and others make you sad? Why don't trees ever talk? How deep does the sun go when it sinks into the sea?

Premise/plot: Marco is the fox-hero of The Antlered Ship. The book celebrates marveling or curiosity. Marco sets out with other animals on a quest for answers to his questions. All have their own individual reason for setting sail and heading off into the unknown. Marco hopes to find other foxes like him--philosophically inclined foxes that contemplate the meaning of the universe. The adventure has ups and downs--moments when Marco--and the others--question why they set sail in the first place. But Marco finds he LOVES the journey.

My thoughts: I like this one. I do like Marco. I appreciate his curiosity and his longing to find kindred spirits. I have never been inclined to go adventure-seeking myself. Curiosity is worth celebrating, it can lead you places for sure. While Marco was drawn to the sea, I'm drawn to libraries.

If you enjoy animal fantasy consider picking this one up!

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Ocean Meets Sky

Ocean Meets Sky. Terry and Eric Fan. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Finn lived by the sea, and the sea lived by him. "It's a good day for sailing," his grandfather would have said.

Premise/plot: On what would have been his grandfather's ninetieth birthday, a young boy dreams whimsically about the ocean meeting the sky. His grandfather was always telling stories about a magical place where the ocean met the sky.

My thoughts: If you love, love, love whimsical, fantastical books then Ocean Meets Sky might be a great fit for you and your little ones. If you prefer less whimsy and more reality, then maybe not so much. Most of this one is a boy's dream-journey to the place where the ocean meets the sky. If you're willing to dream with Finn, then you might enjoy the journey and be mesmerized by the detailed illustrations.

Ocean Meets Sky is not my kind of book, but it may be your kind of book. I wouldn't be surprised if it got some award love at some point for its illustrations.

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


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

People Don't Bite People

People Don't Bite People. Lisa Wheeler. Illustrated by Molly Schaar Idle. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It's good to bite a carrot.
It's good to bite a steak.
It's BAD to bite your sister!
She's not a piece of cake.

Premise/plot: The title says it all. This rhyming picture book has a message--an agenda--one that we can all get behind. People don't bite people. People can and should use words to express their feelings. People can and should practice self-control.

My thoughts: I liked this one. It is thorough leaving no room for doubt. Brothers. Sisters. Mothers. Fathers. Friends. People. I liked the rhyming for the most part. Some of the rhymes were just fun!

People don't bite people.
You're not a zombie, dude!
A friend will never bite a friend.
Biting is for food!

People don't bite people!
It really isn't right.
But if their head is gingerbread....
go on and take a bite!

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Kat Writes a Song

Kat Writes a Song. Greg Foley. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:  It was a gray and rainy day. Kat was stuck indoors. She was sad because there was no one to play with. "If I write a song, maybe it will make me feel better," Kat said.

Premise/plot: Kat, the ADORABLE heroine of Greg Foley's picture book, sets out to write a song one rainy day. The name of the song she writes is the "Amazing Song to Make Things Better." A song, once written, is meant to be SHARED. And share her music she does! Will the song make things better?!

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one. It is adorable, sweet, and fun. I would say it had me at the end covers--which you should definitely take notice of, by the way--but in all honesty, it was the cover that got me. I didn't even have to open the book to know that it was LOVE--that I was in for quite a treat. The book did not disappoint.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Little Reindeer

The Little Reindeer. Nicola Killen. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: It was Christmas Eve and Ollie had just gone to sleep when jingle, jingle, jingle she woke again with a start. What was that sound?

Premise/plot: A little girl--in reindeer pajamas--discovers a reindeer on Christmas Eve. A small adventure follows, and Christmas morning a souvenir of sorts is received as a gift.

My thoughts: I liked it. The story works well enough. Ollie is a cute heroine. I thought the illustrations were wonderful. It took several readings for me to see all the details in the illustrations and how they add to the story. This is one reindeer-obsessed heroine. Her pillow case, the art on her bedroom wall, the wallpaper of her bedroom, the book on her floor, her bookend, her chalk art, her stuffed animal that accompanies her on her adventure, and, of course, her pajamas.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

This is a Good Story

This is a Good Story. Adam Lehrhaupt. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]



First sentence: Our story begins with Hero. Or is it Heroine? Both? Yes, that works! Both. Let's try that again. Our story begins with Hero and Heroine. They live in a good town, filled with good people called our Setting. As with any Good Story, ours has a Conflict, a problem that needs fixing. And it's a good thing, too, because without a Conflict there would be no Plot. Our story would go nowhere.

Premise/plot: The narrator of this one is eager to help a little girl write a GOOD STORY.

My thoughts: I LOVE this one. The little girl is both author and illustrator. The narrator is teaching her about the elements of creative writing. Teaching by showing, not telling. It is a fun story about the creative process. It introduces some key terms, but, the educational value of the book doesn't distract from the entertainment value of the book. Will the evil overlord keep the townsfolk in his dungeon forever?! Will Hero and Heroine save the day?!

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: This Little Trailblazer

This Little Trailblazer: A Girl Power Primer. Joan Holub. Illustrated by Daniel Roode. 2017. Simon & Schuster. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Paving the way to a future that's bright. Helping the world with their skills, smarts, and might. Little trailblazers cause great big changes.

Premise/plot: This board book introduces little ones to trailblazing women from all walks of life and corners of the world. Readers meet Ada Lovelace, Florence Nightingale, Coco Chanel, Rosa Parks, Maria Tallchief, Wilma Rudolph, Sonia Sotomayor, Ruby Bridges, Maya Lin, and Malala Yousafzai.
Each woman is introduced in rhyme. The next page contains a few more facts.

Coco Chanel
This little trailblazer
became a millionaire
by designing simpler clothes
for women to wear.

Coco Chanel disliked the tight dresses of the 1900s. She created comfortable styles that women still love today.

Rosa Parks
This little trailblazer
caused a big fuss
by not giving up
her seat on the bus.

Rosa Parks's bravery helped change an unfair rule that African Americans could not sit by Caucasians on the bus.

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed reading this one. I loved the rhymes. I liked the additional facts. I wasn't absolutely wowed by the illustrations. (In fact, I disliked some of the illustrations. The illustration of Coco Chanel bothered me. Her lipstick is so dark that it looks like a black mustache. She looks like Hercules Poirot. I do not think that was the illustrator's intent at all.) But I loved the premise of this one. 


© 2017 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Is Everyone Ready for Fun?

Is Everyone Ready for Fun by Jan Thomas. 2011. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages.

Look! It's Chicken's sofa! PLOP!
It's time to...
Jump!
Up and down,
up and down.
Let's all JUMP
up and down!
On Chicken's sofa!

I love Jan Thomas. I do. I just love, love, love her books. There is just something happy-making about them; they're simple, true, but oh-so-much-fun. There's just something pure and simple and wonderful about them all!

This book stars three cows and a chicken. The three cows are ever so excited about jumping on chicken's little red sofa. (I love how this is illustrated!) But Chicken, well, Chicken has a different perspective on the matter. She wants it to stop. NOW.

They hear her. They do. So they get ready to have fun in a different way...or do they? You be the judge!!!

Is everyone ready for more fun?!
It's time to...
Dance!
Back and forth,
back and forth.
Let's all DANCE
back and forth!
On Chicken's sofa!

Highly recommended if you love funny books!

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

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Pretty Princess Pig

Pretty Princess Pig. Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple. Illustrated by Sam Williams. 2011. Simon & Schuster. (Little Simon). 24 pages.

Pretty in pink is Princess Pig.
Her trotters are tiny. Her snout is big.
She loves to eat. She loves to dig.
Pretty Princess Pig.


At the first pink light of dawn, 
she snorts one enormous yawn,
then throws her flowered party dress on.
Pretty Princess Pig.

At first, I hated it. I'll be honest. The first few pages, I was like this book is NOT for me. It's too pink, too glittery, too rhyming. But I kept reading. I looked past the pinky-pinkness of it. I looked past the princess nonsense, and what I discovered was that it is actually a funny story about a pig who keeps getting messier and messier and messier as she prepares for a gathering of her friends--tea, cookies, scones, crumpets, etc. The messier she got, the messier her home got, the more I liked her.

So while I wouldn't say this book is a new favorite. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would.

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


© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Grump

Grump. Janet Wong. Illustrated by John Wallace. 2001. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages.

Look how tired this Mommy is
Tired and frumpy
Grouchy chumpy
Oh, what a grump!


Look at Baby
Smart, good Baby
Happy Baby
Making gravy
Applesauce and ketchup gravy
Not too lumpy
Not too bumpy
Squish squish
DUMP!

Grump is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite books. I almost don't even need to make the qualification of favorite picture book. It's a book that begs to be read aloud again and again and again. The rhythm of it is almost magical--at least to me! I love the use of language, I do. I love the way it sounds, the way it feels on my tongue. It's real life. It's poetry. It just works.

The story of this one is simple. It's been a LONG, LONG, LONG day for this Mom and her Baby. And even if the Baby doesn't think he needs a nap, he needs a nap. But will this baby go down for a nap? Not without an all-too-familiar-struggle!

Baby's going to take a nap now
Baby's going to take a nap now
Baby's going to take a nap now
Take a nap now
Little lump.

She puts him in his crib and...

And oh of course that baby cries
Cries and whimpers
Cries and whimpers
Cries and whimpers
Play with me!
So Mommy sits 
And reads to Baby
Reads so pretty
Reads so softly
Reads and reads and reads until--

Can you guess what happened to the oh-so-tired, oh-so-grumpy Mommy?

This one is such a GREAT book. I loved how true-to-life it was. Not only for the baby, not only for the mommy--but it captures the ups and downs of the whole relationship.

This one has been a favorite going on ten years. Today I was looking to review some board books, hoping to find something great to share with you, when I thought again of Grump. Why isn't Grump still in print? Why hasn't it been reprinted? Why??? It's just a WONDERFUL book. And it would be a great board book!!! The combination of this story with that format would be just perfect!!!!

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers