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

Knuffle Bunny Free

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion. Mo Willems. 2010. September 2010. HarperCollins. 52 pages.

One day, not so long ago, Trixie took a big trip with her family. They were on their way to visit Trixie's "Oma" and "Opa" in Holland. So that meant taking a taxi to the airport, waiting in line, watching Knuffle Bunny go through the big machine, waiting some more, and (finally) getting onto a real airplane!

Trixie is back in her third adventure. She's lost Knuffle Bunny at the local laundromat, the local school, what's next? The airplane, of course! It has been a few years since Trixie went boneless at the loss of Knuffle Bunny. Her parents tell her again and again that she is bigger now. Her grandparents tell her again and again that she is bigger now. But is it true? Can Trixie be okay without Knuffle Bunny by her side? (It helps when Trixie dreams of Knuffle Bunny having adventures in China--the next destination for that plane. It does NOT help when Oma and Opa try to buy her a replacement bunny--that speaks Dutch and dances!)

It's not quite what I was expecting. To be honest. Because I wasn't expecting Trixie to be this mature. To be okay with her loss this time. I think this surprises her parents a bit too! I'm not sure I loved it. Not in the same way I loved the first one or the second. But I liked it.

The art--like always--is fabulous! My favorite illustration? Trixie in the bathtub! My favorite twist? Reading Trixie's "first letter." When you read the book--be sure to read this letter! It might be easy to miss.

The Knuffle Bunny books should be read in order. My reviews of Knuffle Bunny and Knuffle Bunny Too.



© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Jake

Jake. Audrey Couloumbis. 2010. September 2010. Random House. 176 pages.

"Joey Ziglar says it's boring, grocery shopping with his mom," I said. It was our usual Saturday afternoon trip to the store.
"Lucky for you, I'm not Joey Ziglar's mom."
"It's a little boring," I said. "Sometimes."

That Saturday morning trip to the grocery store doesn't stay routine. When Jake's mom slips on the ice and breaks her leg, well, Jake's life stops being ordinary. Jake's grandfather enters into the picture. This is the first opportunity--at least that Jake can remember--for the two to get to know one another. And while the situation is anything but ideal, much good does come from it!

I liked this one. It is a nice Christmas-themed, family-themed novel for young readers.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

God Gave Us Love

God Gave Us Love. Lisa Tawn Bergren. Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. Waterbrook Press.

Little Cub struggles with loving in this family-friendly picture book. It's not always easy to love. Your family. Your friends. Your neighbors. There are many different kinds of love, Little Cub discovers through her questions, but God gave us love. And he wants us to show HIS love to others. Grampa Bear is doing the honors in this one of teaching Little Cub all about God and God's love and how we're supposed to love others because God first showed His love to us.

"Anytime we show love, Little Cub, we're sharing a bit of his love."

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Imaginary Garden

Larsen, Andrew. 2009. The Imaginary Garden. Illustrations by Irene Luxbacher. Kids Can Press.

The Imaginary Garden is charming and lovely and endearing. But not in a sickeningly sweet and syrupy way. I'm not saying that. I'm saying it in the feels-so-good-and-right-and-true way. Here's how it starts off: "Theo loved Poppa's old house. She loved Poppa's old garden. Poppa used to tell Theo all about the different flowers while they sat together under the maple tree." But Poppa isn't living in his old house. And his new apartment doesn't have a garden. But it does have a balcony. Can this grandfather-granddaughter team create a garden for the balcony? They just might if it's an "imaginary" one.

See this imaginary garden take shape as these two paint their way through spring and summer. As these two continue to spend time together, more than imaginary flowers will blossom.

This book is satisfying. It just feels good to read it. To witness such lovable characters come to life. The art by Irene Luxbacher is practically perfect. It adds just the right touch to this tale of love and hope and new life.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers