50. Downpour

 

50. Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash! Yuko Ohnari. Translated by Emily Balistrieri. Illustrated by Koshiro Hata. 2025 (2018). 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 5 stars]

First sentence: It's sooo hot! The ground's burning hot! Hot, hot! Huh? Clouds. Dark clouds. They're coming this way! Plip! Plip! Plip! It's raining. Plip! plip! plip! The drops are big! It smells like the sky. It smells like the ground, too. BADA-BADA-BADA. BADA-BADA-BADA. PLIP. PLIP. BADA. PLAM-PL-PLAM. PLIP. BADA-BADA. My umbrella's a drum.

Premise/plot: A young boy enjoys a rain storm. Downpour was originally published in Japan in 2018. It has recently been translated into English and published in the United States. In some ways, it's a simple book with a simple story: a boy celebrating RAIN. But it's told in a rhythmic, playful way. 

My thoughts: Do I love it more than Umbrella? No. I want to be upfront about that. I love and adore Taro Yashima's UMBRELLA. A thousand stars. A million stars. All the stars. By far my favorite picture book ever-ever-ever. (Taro Yashima was a Japanese artist who immigrated to the United States in 1939. He wrote and illustrated children's books.) But this book comes close--not in artistic style of the illustrations--but in capturing the simple joys of the rhythm of the rain. In the playfulness of language, perhaps. As far as the art goes, there are a few spreads that I absolutely LOVE. So I definitely recommend Downpour! But if you haven't read Umbrella, check that one out too! 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

197. The Wondrous Wonders

The Wondrous Wonders by Camille Jourdy. 2019/2022. 160 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Where'd that girl run off to? She just can't sit still.

Premise/plot: Newly translated into English from the French, The Wondrous Wonders is a MG graphic novel. Jo, the protagonist, is mad-sad (or sad-mad) about her parents divorce. (I believe her father is either marrying someone new, dating someone new, or already married someone new. There is going to be a stepmother in the picture and new step-siblings). In her anger-frustration, she storms away from the family gathering [a picnic???] into the woods. She is RUNNING AWAY and you better believe she is serious. The elves--whom she starts to follow--are fed up by Jo's incessant whining. This elf-couple even starts throwing around the word divorce. Soon, Jo isn't just "meeting" [aka forcing an acquaintance] elves but talking animals [like foxes and ponies] as well. She learns that there is an evil emperor tomcat who is imprisoning folks. Her new "friends" (magical folk she's literally just met) are planning to help those friends/family break out of the emperor's dungeon. But it won't be easy. Jo is part of the problem, though to be fair so is lack of [sophisticated] planning. Though the first attempt may not succeed, Jo's persistent and determined presence may just be enough motivation to keep going. [Jo seems to be annoying just about everyone she meets.] Jo keeps meeting new folks and these new folks keep throwing around the divorce word a lot. Almost like the author wants Jo to learn a little lesson in this fantastical world she's stumbled into. 

My thoughts: I personally felt a disconnect. I had a hard time connecting with the many characters in this fantastical world. When authors go for whimsical/absurd/odd/fantastical, it can be an absolute delight. Or it can just be a little off-putting. And whether you find it delightful or off-putting is completely subjective...with plenty of factors coming into play. For me, it may be the graphic novel format that is keeping me from engaging. [I'm not the biggest enthusiast for graphic novels]. Or it could be it loses a little something in translation. Or it could be just a tiny bit didactic for me.

I do think part of it, for me, is just personal. I have a hard time following stories told mainly through wordless panels. Some pages had text, no doubt. But some pages just had a series of panels. I am HORRIBLE at reading wordless pictures. Just horrible. My comprehension isn't the best of "reading" illustrations [alone] so I tend to skip these panels. Skipping pages isn't fair to the author/illustrator. That's why I am upfront that it is a me problem. 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Shake the Tree

Shake the Tree. Chiara Vignocchi. Paolo Chiarinotti. Silvia Borando. 2018. Candlewick Press. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

 First sentence: Mouse spots a nut. "Mmm," she says. "I'm going to gobble that up!" So she shakes the tree a little to the right...shake...and a little to the left. Shake, shake. Uh-oh.

Premise/plot: Shake the Tree is an interactive picture book originally published in Italy in 2015. The 'bells and whistles' of this one are provided by the imagination of the readers--parent and child. In this one, a mouse sets out to shake a delicious nut out of the tree. That isn't exactly what happens when she starts shaking the tree.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I can't say that I loved it as much as Silvia Borando's The Cat Book or The Dog Book by Lorenzo Clerici--both books in this same "Minibombo" series. But it's worth checking out of the library and sharing with your little ones. They may love it and want it again, again!

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers

Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers: Another Love Story. Sam Lloyd. 2008. 32 pages. [Source: Library] (2007, UK)

First sentence: This is the story of a little girl called Emily and her dear cat, Mr. Pusskins. They thought life couldn't get any better. Then, one day, Emily announced that she had a fabulous surprise for Mr. Pusskins. He was very excited.

Premise/plot: Mr. Pusskins is home again. But does he stay happy and content? Or does he become an ungrateful grump when Emily introduces a new kitten into the house? Will Little Whiskers and Mr. Pusskins make friends? Or will Mr. Pusskins run away again?

My thoughts: I liked this one. I did. I didn't love, love, love it as I did the first book. But I was very happy to see Mr. Pusskins star in another book. What I loved most about this one--and the other one, if I'm honest--was how expressive the illustrations are. The faces Mr. Pusskins makes are priceless. Forgiveness is also part of this second story.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mr. Pusskins

Mr. Pusskins: A Love Story. Sam Lloyd. 2006. 32 pages. [Source: Library] (2006, UK)

First sentence: This is the story of a little girl called Emily and her dear cat, Mr. Pusskins. Emily adored Mr. Pusskins.

Premise/plot: Mr. Pusskins does not appreciate Emily. At least not when our story opens. What we have here is a story of a prodigal cat: "He went places he wasn't meant to go and did things he wasn't meant to do, and made friends with the Pesky Cat Gang." But after some adventures and misadventures, Mr. Pusskins may be ready to come home again. Will Emily be waiting for him?

My thoughts: I loved, loved, LOVED Mr. Pusskins. Whether or not it's intentional or not on the part of the author, Mr. Pusskins is a near-perfect adaptation of the Prodigal Son. I loved Emily start to finish. Mr. Pusskins is quite the character, quite the transforming character. "The things Mr. Pusskins wasn't supposed to do weren't fun anymore. And his new friends weren't really very nice. How lovely it would be to have someone brush his fur and tell him how much they loved him. He felt all alone." I thought the text was lovely and heartwarming.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Lola Gets A Cat

Lola Gets a Cat. Anna McQuinn. Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw. 2017. Charlesbridge. 28 pages. [Source: Library] (2016 in UK)

First sentence:  Lola loves cats. She wants a real one. Mommy says looking after a cat is a lot of work.

Premise/plot: Lola is a little girl who LOVES cats. Is she ready to get a real cat for a pet?

My thoughts: Lola Gets A Cat is a cute, sweet story about a little girl getting a cat as a pet. It isn't enough to want a pet, you have to be ready to take care of a pet. This involves the whole family getting prepared. It also involves patience. Lola's cat, Makeda, has to get used to her new home.

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


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Press Here

Press Here. Herve Tullet. 2011. Chronicle. 56 pages.

Ready?
PRESS HERE and turn the page.
Great! Now press the yellow dot again.
Perfect. Rub the dot on the left...
Gently.
Well done! And now the one on the right...
Gently.

Press Here is creative and unique. How many interactive books depend on a child's imagination? In this "interactive" picture book, readers are invited to play with a yellow dot. To watch the dot do some amazing things. Each page turn reveals something special that the child has 'helped' to bring about. (Rubbing the dot on the left turns it blue; rubbing the dot on the right turns it red. Tapping the dots five times multiplies the dots. Etc.)

Press Here is different, perhaps. There aren't all that many picture books out there like it. And it's definitely not your traditional picture story book. But I think there are readers out there who can appreciate this one.

Originally published in France.

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

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Anna Hibiscus

 Anna Hibiscus. Atinuke. Illustrated by Lauren Tobia. 2010. Kane/Miller. 112 pages.

Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa. She lives in an old white house with balconies and secret staircases. A wonderful house, in a beautiful garden, inside a big compound. The trees are full of sweet, ripe fruit, and the flowers are full of sweet, juicy nectar, because this is Africa, and Africa can be like this.

This is the first in a series starring Anna Hibiscus, our young heroine. She comes from a big family--and she likes it that way. A family that is traditional and contemporary. The book contains four stories: "Anna Hibiscus on Holiday" which showcases her family--why every member of the family is important, "Auntie Comfort," which showcases the family's traditional values in a contemporary world, "Anna Hibiscus Sells Oranges" which showcases the importance of hard work and compassion, and "Sweet Snow" in which Anna makes a connection with her Canadian grandmother when she decides to visit her for the Christmas holiday so she can see snow for the first time.

I enjoyed reading these stories very much.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mad at Mommy

Mad at Mommy. Komako Sakai. 2010. October 2010. Scholastic. 40 pages.

Mommy, I -- I --
I am so mad at you!
You always sleep late,
especially on Saturdays.
Always and always.
You always watch your shows
and never let me watch cartoons.

This little bunny could tell you a dozen reasons why he is so, so mad at his mommy! Perhaps you can relate?! But as our narrator shares his feelings, as he lets his anger out--using words--he begins to calm down. Not at first, perhaps. But by the end, he's ready to make up again. He realizes just how much he loves, loves, loves his mommy!

I really, really liked this one. There were places I loved it. The narrative voice was great. It felt believable, authentic, kid-like. One of the reasons I enjoyed this one so much is because of the illustrations. I thought they were wonderful! I just loved them! Especially the one where this little bunny is waiting and waiting and waiting for his mother to hurry up!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Otter Everywhere

Otter Everywhere: Brand New Readers. By Christine Webster. Illustrated by Tim Nihoff. 2007. Candlewick Press. 48 pages.

Otter Everywhere is part of Candlewick's Brand New Readers series. It contains four stories starring Otter. These include: Otter's Picnic, Otter Makes Bubbles, Otter Goes Swimming, Otter's Apples. Each story is simple and predictable. Though the books use only a few words, Webster does still manage to tell an interesting story. Often each story has a slight twist.

From Otter's Picnic:

Otter has a banana.
Otter has an apple.
Otter has cheese.
Ants take the banana.
Ants take the apple...

Can you predict what will happen next? My favorite stories are Otter's Picnic and Otter's Apples.


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Dog Loves Books

Dog Loves Books. Louise Yates. 2010. July 2010. Random House. 32 pages.

Dog loved books.
He loved the smell of them,
and he loved the feel of them.
He loved everything about them...
Dog loved books so much
that he decided to open his own bookstore.

Dog is a dog that loves to read. He loves books. He wants to share this love of reading with everyone. At first, Dog is disappointed that his new bookstore has no customers. NO real customers at least. (A man asking for directions does not count!) But Dog isn't one to feel discouraged for long. He'll just do what he loves best--read a good book or two or three. When the time comes when a real customer finds his store, Dog knows just what to do. He knows the perfect books to recommend!

It's a cute book. A simple book. I liked it.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Ferocious Wild Beasts!

Ferocious Wild Beasts! by Chris Wormell. 2009. December 2009. Random House. 32 pages.

A bear was strolling in the forest one day...when he met a small boy, sitting on a tree stump, looking rather sad.
"What's the matter?" asked the bear.
"I'm lost," sniffed the boy, "and I'm in terrible trouble."
"Dear me, why's that?" inquired the bear.
"Because my mom said I must never go into the forest," replied the boy, "but I did. And now I'm lost!"
"Don't worry!" said the bear with a laugh. "I'll soon show you the way out. The forest isn't so bad, you know."
"It is!" declared the boy. "My mom says the forest is full of ferocious wild beasts!"
"Really?" said the bear.

I loved, loved, loved Ferocious Wild Beasts! It's a very funny picture book. It stars a boy and a diverse cast of 'ferocious wild beasts' of the forest: a bear, an elephant, a lion, a wolf, a python, and a crocodile. As the boy tells his new friends about the dangers lurking in the forest--how wild, hairy beasts abound and are ready to jump out at you from the shadows, that they like eating lions best, etc--his new friends become more and more frightened.

Ferocious Wild Beasts makes a wonderful read aloud! I highly recommend it!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Oscar and the Moth

Oscar and the Moth: A Book About Light and Dark. Geoff Waring. 2007. Candlewick. 32 pages.

One summer evening, Oscar lay on the warm back step.
Moth was just waking up. "Where does the sun go at night?" Oscar asked her.
"It doesn't go anywhere" Moth answered, "but the Earth is always turning around. Now it's turning slowly away from the sun."
Oscar was surprised.
"I'm not turning around!" he said.
"We can't feel it," Moth said, "but we can see it. When our side of the Earth turns toward the sun, it gets light. And when it turns away again, it gets dark."

Oscar is a curious kitten who stars in Geoff Waring's Start with Science series published by Candlewick Press. In this adventure, Oscar learns about light and dark from his friend Moth. He learns about different sources of lights. He learns about how light produces heat. He learns about shadows too. The book has its fictional elements--talking animals--but it is informative.


Oscar and the Moth and Oscar and the Frog are my two favorite books in the series. The series is designed to present basic concepts to children about the world around them in an age-appropriate way.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Oscar and the Frog

Oscar and the Frog: A Book About Growing. 2007. Candlewick. 32 pages.

One spring day by the pond, Oscar saw some creatures he had not seen before.
Frog hopped up.
"They're tadpoles," Frog said.
"I was a tadpole before I grew up."
Oscar stared at Frog. He didn't look like a tadpole at all.
"Don't be silly, Frog!" Oscar said, laughing.
"It's true," Frog said, and he told Oscar how frogs grow.

Oscar is a curious kitten. In this adventure, he learns about how plants and animals grow. He learns that some grow fast, some grow slow. Each living thing grows at its own rate. Some things come from seeds, some from eggs, and others are born. Each living thing requires nourishment--though different types of nourishment. The book though told within a narrative format--a fictional story--is very informative.



Oscar and the Frog is one of my favorites from the Start with Science series by Geoff Waring. (My other favorite being Oscar and the Moth.)

The series is designed to present basic concepts to children about the world around them in an age-appropriate way.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Oscar and the Bird

Oscar and the Bird: A Book About Electricity. Geoff Waring. 2009. Candlewick. 32 pages.

One day, Oscar saw a tractor standing in the field. He climbed up to look in the cab, when suddenly the windshield wiper started to move.
Swish, swish!
"How did that happen?"
Oscar wondered.
Bird flew down from her branch.
"Electricity is making the wiper move," she said. "You must have pressed the switch by mistake."
"What's electricity?" Oscar asked.
"It's a kind of energy that people use to help things move, make sounds, light up, or heat up," Bird said.

Oscar is a kitten who is curious about electricity. Who better to teach him than a bird?!

Perhaps I've read too many Oscar books in a row. But this is the one book in the series that I have my doubts about. Maybe I find electricity a bit too tricky to explain in general. Though why I should be any more skeptical about a bird explaining electricity to a cat than a snail explaining how glass is made, I'm not quite sure. But I am. Why is Oscar behind the wheel of a tractor to begin with? Regardless, this one follows the same pattern as previous titles in the series. Oscar learns with a little help from a new friend how the world works.


The series is designed to present basic concepts to children about the world around them in an age-appropriate way.


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Oscar and the Cricket

Oscar and the Cricket: A Book About Moving and Rolling. Geoff Waring. 2008. Candlewick. 32 pages.

One fall day, Oscar was up on the hill when he found something round and red in the grass.
He sniffed it and nudged it. What could it be?
Cricket jumped up.
"It's a ball!" He said. "You can make it roll. Try pushing it with your paw."
So Oscar did.

Are you curious about the world around you? Are you always asking questions? You might be a lot like Oscar. He is one curious kitten. He is the star of Geoff Waring's Start With Science series for young readers. In this adventure, Oscar meets a cricket who teaches him about how things move. One of the things Oscar learns is that for things to move there needs to be an outside force.


The series is designed to present (explain) basic concepts to children about the world around them in an age-appropriate way.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Oscar and the Snail

Oscar and the Snail: A Book About Things We Use. Geoff Waring. 2009. Candlewick. 32 pages.

One morning, Oscar was out in the garden, exploring. He found a nest.
Along slid Snail.
"The birds are building it to keep their eggs safe," Snail said.
"What do they make it from?" Oscar asked.
"Different things," Snail said. "The outside needs to be strong to keep out the weather, so birds use twigs and leaves and roots for that job. The inside needs to be soft to sit in," Snail went on, "so they use moss and spiderwebs for that job."
"And feathers!" said Oscar.
"Oh, yes," said Snail. "Feathers help to hold the air in...and keep the nest warm."

Oscar is the curious kitten who is the star of Geoff Waring's Start with Science series published by Candlewick. In each book, Oscar meets an animal--a snail, a bat, a cricket, a moth--who becomes his friend. Oscar asks questions, dozens of questions. And through conversation, he learns about the world around him. In the case of Oscar and the Snail, he learns about "the things we use." He begins to ask questions about the things we use--glass, plastic, bricks. He learns where such things come from--how they're made, why they're made, etc.


The series is designed to present basic concepts to children about the world around them in an age-appropriate way.


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Oscar and the Bat

Oscar and the Bat: A Book About Sound. Geoff Waring. 2008. Candlewick. 32 pages.

One summer evening in the meadow, Oscar heard a new sound. He looked around to see who was making it.
Bat swooped by.
"It's the baby blackbirds," he said. "Their nest is over there in the bush."
"Oh," said Oscar. "I can hear them, even though I can't see them!"
"Yes," said Bat. "Our ears help us know what's around us, even when our eyes can't."

Oscar is a very curious kitten. And he is the star of Candlewick's "A Start With Science" series by Geoff Waring. In this adventure, Oscar meets a bat who teaches him about sound.

Though there are fictional elements to the book--cats may be curious, but they rarely ask questions--the books are full of facts shared through a conversational format.


The series is designed to present basic concepts to children about the world around them in an age-appropriate way.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

All About Me! A Baby's Guide to Babies

All About Me! A Baby's Guide to Babies by David Salariya. 2008. Random House. 16 pages.

I loved this one! I just loved it! I love the use of photographs. I love seeing the diversity of the babies. I love the text too. It is so cute, so fun, so true. My favorite spread:

I am a flexible baby --
I can touch my nose,
I can touch my toes,
I can even touch my nose with my toes!
I am a very clever baby.

I love the refrain of this one: I am a very clever baby. It is repeated on each spread. It was very cute, very sweet. I would definitely recommend this one!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck!

Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! by Kyle Mewburn. Illustrated by Ali Teo & John O'Reilly. 2008. Peachtree. 32 pages.

Auntie Elsie was always pleased to see Andy.
"Hi-de-hi, Andy Apple Pie!" she yelled.
"Hello, Auntie Elsie," he replied, and got ready to run.
But Andy was too slow.
Auntie Elsie's arms swooped out and grabbed him in a squishy hug.
Andy wriggled.
He held his breath.
But the sloppy kisses came, all the same.

I love this one! I do! I think it's very fun. It stars a little boy, Andy, and his very loving aunt. Whenever his aunt comes to visit, Andy tries and tries and tries to outwit her. He plots and plans how he can avoid her yucky kisses. Each time he fails. But one day, his aunt doesn't come...and Andy realizes that maybe being kissed isn't the worst thing in the world! Can Andy find a place in his heart for his Auntie?

I enjoyed this one very much!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers