52. Zathura

52. Zathura. Chris Van Allsburg. 2002. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, fantasy]

First sentence: "Mom!" Danny Budwing yelled. "Mom!" Walter and Danny's mother stopped at her sons' bedroom door.

Premise/plot: Walter and Danny are brothers who fight and bicker and fuss all the time, ALL the time. But will a board game bring them together????

My thoughts: I watched the movie adaptation, Zathura. I loved it. I had never read the picture book. I've never seen Jumanji. I had low expectations for the movie, but, I found it GREAT fun. Perhaps if I'd had extremely high expectations and a preconceived notion of what it should be and should not be, I would have felt differently.

This picture book is much more "basic" and "contained" than the movie. The game is still adventurous but it doesn't seem SO intensely dangerously dramatic and a fight for survival. And the ending is quite different.

I personally love the movie more. But I can see how the book is creative and could work for young readers.

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


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

133. Charlie and Mouse Outdoors

Charlie and Mouse Outdoors. (Charlie and Mouse #4) Laurel Snyder. 2020. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Charlie was in the car. Mouse was in the car. Charlie and Mouse were in the car. "This is boring," said Charlie. "Why don't you make up a story," said Dad. "Stories aren't boring." 

Premise/plot: The family is out for an outdoors adventure. There are four interconnected stories: "Boring" (about the car trip there), "The Hike" (about an adventure/misadventure they have in the "great outdoors), "Kittens" (an adorable story about how they un-scare themselves from their previous hike), "The fire" (about a family celebration WITH s'mores). 

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, crazy love these characters. This is their fourth book of adventures. I love Charlie. I love Mouse. I love them both together. These two make my day. This one is about their camping adventures with the family. Highly recommend the whole series.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Thin Ice

Thin Ice. Jerrold Beim. Illustrated by Louis Darling. 1956. 46 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: Lee and his brother Bobby went to school in the morning. Bobby was in the kindergarten and Lee was in the second grade. Lee liked everything about school except--reading!

Premise/plot: Lee struggles with his reading. It is his least favorite subject in school. Honestly, he's not sure what is all that great about reading. But he changes his mind after a close call on the skating pond. He reads the sign: KEEP OFF! THIN ICE! in time to warn his younger brother, Bobby.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I bought it at a local charity shop. The first thing I noticed were the illustrations by Louis Darling. (I find vintage illustrations hard to resist.) The illustrations alternate between black and white and color: three colors to be precise: blue, red, and maroon. My favorite illustration is the HUGE smile on Lee's face when he finally 'gets' reading and is able to read a page in front of his reading group.

The story itself is about a boy who struggles with reading. The book provides a snapshot of how reading was taught in the 1950s.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Charlie & Mouse & Grumpy

Charlie & Mouse & Grumpy. Laurel Snyder. Illustrated by Emily Hughes. 2017. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: There was a knock. At the door. There was a knock at the door! It was Grumpy! "GRUMPY!"

Premise/plot: Charlie and Mouse are back for a second set of adventures. This early chapter book stars two lovable brothers and their grandpa, GRUMPY. The chapters are "Medium," "Pouncing," "Songs," and "Good-bye." In the first story, Mouse explains that he's "medium." He's bigger than he was--small--but he's not big like his brother.

"What is it like being medium?"
"When you are medium," said Mouse, "you can read some books. But also, people read books to you."
"What else?" asked Grumpy.
Mouse thought again.
"When you are medium, you can swim. But your mom sits on the steps and watches. Just in case."
"Ahh," said Grumpy. "It sounds very nice to be medium."
"It is," said Mouse.
"And how many hot dogs can you eat?" asked Grumpy. "When you are medium?"
"You can still eat three hot dogs," Mouse said. "But not with mustard. Mustard is not medium."
"That makes sense," said Grumpy.

 In the second story, Charlie and Mouse try to POUNCE Grumpy--but it's hard catching him asleep, or is it?! In the third story, Grumpy tries to put Charlie and Mouse to bed, but he's singing the wrong bedtime songs. In the fourth story, it is sadly time for Grumpy to go home from his visit. Even the blankets are sad.

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, CRAZY love the Charlie and Mouse books. MORE PLEASE. I love the characters. I love the writing. I love the stories. I love the pacing. I love EVERYTHING.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers