66. We Are All Ears

66. We Are All Ears. Jonathan Fenske. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [beginning reader, 3 stars]

First sentence: We are ears. So are we. Don't forget us! We are ears too!

Premise/plot: Ears of corn keep inserting themselves into this early reader about ears.

My thoughts: I have loved some of Jonathan Fenske's books in the past. He's written picture books and beginning readers. Some are all the awesome and hilarious. Others are just okay. I don't think I was in the mood this time around for reading his newest early reader. It wasn't bad, I just didn't find it funny or amusing. BUT other readers might. I might even find it amusing if I reread it in a few months or years or whenever.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

12. I Wish That I Had Duck Feet

12. I Wish That I Had Duck Feet. Dr. Seuss (Writing as Theo LeSieg) Illustrated by B. Tobey. 1965. Random House. 64 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence:
I wish 
that I had duck feet.
And I can tell you why.
You can splash around in duck feet.
You don't have to keep them dry.

Premise/plot: A young boy imagines what it would be like to have duck feet, antlers, a whale spout, a tiger tail, and an elephant trunk. He imagines first WHY it would be GREAT. But the more he thinks it out, the more he comes to see the potential problems. Yes, duck feet and a whale spout would be great, but, would his mother like either one on her son?! NO! By the end, the boy concludes that it's great to be himself.

My thoughts: I really love this one. I have always loved this one. The storytelling is just fun. Though I didn't realize as a kid that Big Bill might just be a bully bothering the young hero.

Have you read I Wish That I Had Duck Feet? Did you like it? Did you love it? hate it? I'd love to know what you thought of it!



© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

11. Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog

11. Would You Rather Be A Bullfrog? Theo LeSieg (Dr. Seuss). Illustrated by Roy McKie. 1975. Random House. 36 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, beginning reader]

First sentence: Tell me! Would you rather be a Dog...or be a Cat? It's time for you to think about important things like that. 

Premise/plot: The narrator asks readers a long series of questions. All questions are silly--or at the very least playful--but some are sillier than others. Some questions are about which animal you'd rather be. Others are about inanimate objects like...would you rather be a ball or a bat OR would you rather be a door or window.

My thoughts: First time reading this one. Honestly I'm not sure I have a decided opinion on it. I certainly liked it better than I thought I would. But I had low expectations in mind. I wasn't expecting it to be a great find, something I'd been "missing" in my life. It was fun in its way. And I think I liked it well enough. Perhaps it will help me remember the difference between rather and whether.

Have you read Would You Rather Be A Bullfrog? Did you like it? love it? hate it? I'd love to know what you thought of it!


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

10. Great Day for Up

10. Great Day for Up. Dr. Seuss. Illustrated by Quentin Blake. 1974. Random House. 36 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, early reader, beginning reader]

First sentence: Up! Up! The sun is getting up. The sun gets up. So UP with you!

Premise/plot: Do you like getting up in the morning? The book is gentle prompting to do just that. "Up" being the prominent word of the entire book. But does the narrator himself end up getting out of bed? Read and see for yourself!

My thoughts: I liked the "twist" ending. I did. Overall, I liked this one fine. I didn't love, love, love it. But it's certainly an entertaining enough read.

Have you read Great Day for UP! Did you like it? love it? hate it? I'd love to know what you thought of it!


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

8. Stop that Mop!

8. Stop that Mop! Jonathan Fenske. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, beginning reader]

First sentence: I am a mop. I mop and mop. I mop. And mop.

Premise/plot: You may doubt that a book about a mop could be fun. But if you're familiar with Jonathan Fenske's work, then you know there's nothing to worry about! In this one, a mop who is TIRED OF IT ALL runs away. Many try to catch the mop....but will any succeed?????

My thoughts: I love, love, love Jonathan Fenske. I do. This one was fun. Is it my favorite of his? Probably not. Is it more entertaining that 90% of all other beginning readers???? YES. I thought this was a silly, fun, exuberant read. It did win the Geisel Award for 2026.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

7. The Tunneler Tunnels in the Tunnel

7. The Tunneler Tunnels in the Tunnel. Michael Rex. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, beginner reader, ready to read, animal fantasy]

First sentence: The tunneler tunnels in the tunnel. The gardener gardens in the garden. The tunneler tunnels in the tunnel. The farmer farms on the farm. The tunneler tunnels in the tunnel.

Premise/plot: The tunneler tunnels in the tunnel on almost page of this one. Where is the tunneler tunneling to? Is it worth all the hard work?

My thoughts: I don't love this one, but it is perfectly okay. I do think depending on how it's read or read aloud, it could be fun. I think it would be perhaps amusing as a shared read. With one person doing all the 'tunneler tunnels in the tunnel' pages and another reader reading the rest aloud. I do think you could ask questions as you read like, where do you think he's tunneling? You could also read the details of the illustrations for clues.

 

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

146. Kitty-Cam (Critter-Cam)

Kitty-Cam (Ready to Read, Pre-Level 1) Margie Palatini. Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. 2023. [June] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Jump, Kitty. Jump. Jump. Jump. Dunk, Kitty. Dunk. Dunk. Dunk. Dunk. 

Premise/plot: The kitty that stars in this early reader is wearing a camera to capture the antics of day-to-day life. The illustrations show ALL the action. First from an outsider perspective, second through the cat's first-person perspective. The illustrations are super-expressive. For example, when the cat is "hunting" the fish. 

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one! It is gimmicky. I won't lie about that. If the premise of a cat wearing a camera appeals to you, then the book will probably delight. Definitely for cat lovers, pet lovers, etc. It's a simple book. But for me--as a cat lover--I just loved every page of this one.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

129. Elena Rides

Elena Rides. Juana Medina. 2023. [March] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Elena wants to ride. Elena buckles her helmet. She readies, she steadies...she pushes, she pedals! She wobbles and bobbles...KA-BANG!     

Premise/plot: Elena (the elephant) is trying her best to learn how to ride a bicycle. Will she bue successful? Will her hard work and and dedication pay off? 

My thoughts: I love this one so much. This one had me at hello. The cover. The end pages. Every perfect word of this perfectly-perfect narrative. (The language is SO delightful). The illustrations. This beginning reader is so charming. I loved everything about this one!

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

176. Pepper and Boo: Puddle Trouble

Pepper & Boo: Puddle Trouble. Charise Mericle Harper. 2021. [October 19] 64 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Twelve paws like to play outside. Four paws belong to Pepper. Four paws belong to Boo. Four paws belong to the Cat. The Cat has a message.

Premise/plot: This second book in the Pepper & Boo series focuses on a rainy day. The two dogs, Pepper and Boo, STILL want to play outside--despite the rain. The Cat, on the other hand, would rather stay inside the house to play. The rain isn't her idea of fun. Meanwhile, the two dogs have an argument of sorts about what kind of 'coat' is best for playing in the rain. 

My thoughts: I liked this one. I didn't love it as much as the first book. Don't get me wrong, I still love the characters. I do. But the story--at least for me as an adult--was less entertaining. Perhaps because the first book had to do with NAPPING and the second book has to deal with PLAYING in the rain and playing in puddles...but I would still easily recommend the series as a whole.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

175. Pepper & Boo: A Cat Surprise

Pepper & Boo: A Cat Surprise. Charise Mericle Harper. 2020. [September] 64 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Twelve paws are in this house. Four paws belong to Pepper. Four paws belong to Boo. Four paws belong to the Cat. The cat has something to say.

Premise/plot: This beginning reader/early reader focuses on three friends--Pepper, Boo, and Cat. Cat not only has something to say, she has a LOT to say. Readers get to see what THE GOOD LIFE looks like--if you're a cat. And the good life, well, the good life definitely has napping in it. A lot of naps! But what happens when Cat decides to nap in Boo's bed?!?!?!

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one. It was such a great read. I loved all three characters. I loved the relationships. I loved the story. It had plenty of humor. I would have loved, loved, loved this one as a kid. (Hint: I still love it now as an adult.)

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

117. Haylee and Comet

Haylee and Comet: A Tale of Cosmic Friendship. Deborah Marcero. 2021. [June] 72 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: To Haylee, wishes were magic. She made one every chance she could. On dandelion puffs....on tree frogs....and shiny pennies. But her favorite way to make a wish was on a star. But not just any star. It had to be a falling star.

Premise/plot: Haylee and Comet is an emerging reader graphic novel. It contains three stories: "The Wish," "The Friend Ship," and "The Surprise."

In the first story, Haylee, our heroine, wishes on a falling star and meets Comet. In the second story, these two new friends work together to build a ship that they ultimately call 'The Friend Ship.' In the third story, Comet tries his best to garden--so he can have a surprise for Haylee--but Comet (and readers) soon realize that flowers grow best in the ground WITHOUT his help.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It is the beginning of a new series. If the library orders them I'd love to keep up with the series.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

97. See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog

See the Cat: Three Stories About A Dog. David LaRochelle. Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. 2020. [September] 64 pages.  [Source: Library]

First sentence: See the Cat.

Premise/plot: The dog has a bit of an argument with the narrator in this FUN and FEISTY beginner reader. It all starts with a simple little sentence--hardly unique to any beginner reader--see the cat. The problem? The cat is no where to be seen.

Narrator: See the cat.
Dog: I am not a cat. I am a dog.
Narrator: See the blue cat.
Dog: I am not blue and I am not a cat.
Narrator: The blue cat is in a green dress.
Dog: I do not have a green dress!
Narrator: The cat's name is Baby Cakes.
Dog: That is NOT my name. My name is Max.
Narrator: See the blue cat in a green dress riding a pink unicorn.
Dog: There is no cat! There is no dress! There is no unicorn! There is just me, Max the dog!

You get the idea. There are THREE stories in all. All involve Max the dog and the narrator. The stories are "See the Cat," "See the Snake," and "See the Dog."

My thoughts: It was LOVE, LOVE, LOVE at first sight. Within the first few pages I knew this book was made for me. It is just my cup of tea. Everything about it is just perfectly perfectly perfect. It's the exact kind of book that I would have read to tatters and had every single word memorized.

Highly recommended. I hope that I get a chance to read the companion book, See the Dog, Three Stories about a Cat which releases in September 2021. 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers