6. What-a-baby

 

6. What-a-baby First Words Book. (Whataburger). Blue Star Press. 22 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, board book, novelty book]

First sentence:  Whataburger. Lettuce. Tomato. Onion. Pickles. Patty. Cheese. Bacon. 

Premise/plot: A board book of vocabulary words taken from the Whataburger menu. This novelty book for the youngest of fans may delight adults more than little ones, however, any time spent reading aloud to little ones is a bonus. 

What would make this one even better would be if there was an audio book read by Matthew McConaughey. 

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I thought it was fun in a novelty-silly way. The illustrations could be better, could be worse. They have a retro-dotted style about them. I liked the wide range of words included. 

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

95. Star Wars Unfolds

Star Wars: The Saga Unfolds: An Illustrated Timeline. 2020. Abrams. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

  First sentence: "I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father." Luke Skywalker

Premise/plot: Star Wars Unfolds is an illustrated timeline--focusing on key quotes and key scenes--for the original trilogy of films. It isn't a thorough timeline; it doesn't capture everything. Not every relationship, not every scene is conveyed. It celebrates the original trilogy without focusing on telling a story that makes sense. Because let's be honest, the target audience probably already knows the original story backwards and forwards. If little ones have questions, then parents can fill in the answers.

As you turn the pages, one epic and seamlessly captivating illustration, printed on an accordion fold, moves forward with you—each section transitioning into the next to tell the story of a galaxy far, far away.

My thoughts: I do find it odd that it doesn't end with a celebration and clear victory. The end of the movie is joyous and satisfying. This book ends darkly and in the midst of conflict. It goes full circle in that it ends with Luke proclaiming, "I am a Jedi, like my Father before me." But for those that know WHO his father was (and that is one of the scenes of the book) that isn't all that comforting.

This one is for adult fans who have children of various ages. Though I imagine most parents won't be sharing this one with the very young because all it would take is a tear or two and it would be over.

Perhaps older readers could look closely at the storytelling and discuss why certain scenes were included and others left out?

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers

12. The Crayons' Christmas

The Crayons' Christmas. Drew Daywalt. Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. 2019. 52 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book; Christmas; Novelty]

First sentence: One snowy December day, Duncan was making Christmas cards with his crayons when the mail carrier brought a letter, only it wasn’t for him...

Premise/plot: As a novelty Christmas book this one offers a good time, especially if your little one already loves Duncan’s crayons. It offers several built in activities: peach crayon paper doll with wardrobe, a game board, punch out Christmas ornaments, a dreidel to assemble, etc. The crayons receive a good amount of mail and a box of decorations is fetched from the attic.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I did. I recognize it for what it is—a novelty holiday themed read—not exactly great literature. The story is flimsy at best. But all the activities are cute. I loved the “recipe” that Beige receives from his parents for gluten free cookies. (Beige is now intolerant of gluten because he’s colored in too much wheat.) The first step is to go to the store and buy gluten free cookies. But there are four more steps.

Text: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Total: 6/10 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Goodnight, Starry Night

Goodnight, Starry Night (Peek-a-boo Art) Amy Guglielmo and Julie Appel. 2019. [October 15] Scholastic. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Goodnight glowing moon up high.../ Goodnight stars. Goodnight sky.

Premise/plot: Love reading? Love art? This rhyming board book combines ART with the oh-so-familiar game of peek-a-boo. And if that wasn't enough, it is also a lovely bedtime book! So the art being shared with little ones:

• Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night
• Berthe Morisot's The Cradle
• Henri Rousseau's The Sleeping Gypsy
• Franz Marc's The White Cat
• Diego Rivera's Delfina and Dimas
• Vincent van Gogh's The Bedroom

 The book ends with a smidge of information about each artist.

My thoughts: This was a lovely, charming book. I would have loved it even without the peek-a-boo feature. The rhyming text goes so well with the artwork they've selected to highlight. Many pages--though not all--feature a die-cut that allows a peek-a-boo effect with each piece of art. The text is definitely art-driven!

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Festival of Mud

Board book: Peppa Pig: Festival of Mud. 2019. Scholastic. 12 pages. Scholastic. [Review copy]

First sentence: Peppa is going to the Children's Festival. She's so excited! It's a big outdoor party with lots to see and do.

Premise/plot: Looking for a book that doubles as a toy? Or perhaps you'd prefer a toy that doubles as a book? Do you have a little one who could watch Peppa Pig for hours? This one isn't quite a proper-proper book. It is one that is mainly for PLAYING. It is a Water Wonder book; little ones can "color" each page with water...again and again and again and again.

The narrative--though flimsy--is that Peppa Pig is at a festival with her family and friends. This festival will have them camping overnight.

My thoughts: I do like the show Peppa Pig. I do. Some books are better than others. Some are truly entertaining and worth reading again and again. Other books tend to be more junky. That being said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with activity books to engage little ones. And since it involves WATER and not actual paint, it's not horribly messy and inconvenient.

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


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: You Are My Magical Unicorn

You Are My Magical Unicorn. Joyce Wan. 2018. Scholastic. 14 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: You are magical my little one. Reach for the stars, the moon, the sun. Chase those rainbows as you may. Don't let fear stand in your way.

Premise/plot: Joyce Wan's newest board book is YOU ARE MY MAGICAL UNICORN. Wan has written and illustrated many board books for little ones. All of them are cutesy and adorable. Her books are a wonderful example of what you see is what you get.

My thoughts: I love, love, love Joyce Wan's YOU ARE MY CUPCAKE. Without a doubt, that book is one of the best board books ever to have been published. I did like this one okay. I thought the illustrations were adorable. And I liked the rhyming fine. It's just that the standard by which I judge all Wan books is YOU ARE MY CUPCAKE. And you can *sing* that one. It's just perfectly, perfect. You can't sing You Are My Magical Unicorn. (Though to be fair, I haven't tried every tune I know.)

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Christmas Cookie Thief

The Christmas Cookie Thief. Meredith Rusu. 2018. Scholastic. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: One cold Christmas Eve, the Beanie Boos let out a cheer. A very special visitor soon would be here! "Santa is coming!" Alpine cried in delight. "We have to make everything look merry and bright."

Premise/plot: One of the BOOS is stealing the cookies the others are leaving for Santa. Can you guess which Boo it is?

My thoughts: What you see is what you get. I don't have a problem with that. In fact, it's rather helpful when books deliver exactly what they promise. This is a novelty picture book. It stars TOYS as characters. It has STICKERS--sparkly, sparkly stickers. That's what you'll be getting if you buy this one. (I don't think any library will add this one to the collection!)

The rhyming is hit and miss. I haven't decided how I feel about that. On the one hand, even when the rhyming is on it feels cheesy--Mac the Mouse might approve. On the other hand, when the rhyming is off it has a misfit feel like a train with square wheels. I do wish it was better knowledge that all children's books do not have to rhyme. There's no law that says they should.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Where's Ellie? A Hide and Seek (Board) Book

Board book: Where's Ellie? A Hide and Seek Book. Salina Yoon. 2012. Random House. 18 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Where is Ellie hiding? Is she behind the plant? No, that's a teapot!

Premise/plot: Ellie (the elephant) is hiding. Can little ones find out where she's hiding in this super adorable board book by Salina Yoon?

My thoughts: I love that the elephant's ear and trunk are tactilely pleasing. There are many reasons why I love this one actually. I love, love, love elephants. Always have, always will. I don't think I'll ever outgrow my desire to have a pet elephant. Hide-and-seek books--with or without flaps--can be great fun to read with little ones. This one does not have flaps. A turn of the page reveals the surprise--was that Ellie? or was it something else? The front cover--and almost all of the pages--do have a cut-out. This cut-out is vital to the game of hide-and-seek. And I think it's also great for little grasping hands.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: All Aboard! The Christmas Train

All Aboard! The Christmas Train. Nichole Mara. Illustrated by Andrew Kolb. 2018. Abrams. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Each "page" in this book is a car in the train. Pull out each car to see the train at its full length. Then lift the flaps to discover who is riding in each car. Don't forget to look for all the hideen things.

Premise/plot: This novelty board book folds out--accordion style--to reveal a Christmas train. There is text to be read on each side of the train.

My thoughts: It might sound silly that a children's book is so complex that it needs instructions for parents to be able to use it. But. I do think the instructions are necessary. Books that fold out can be unwieldy and stubborn when it comes to actually reading them with a young child. Story times often happen on the lap--though not always. If you can gracefully read this one with a toddler in your lap--you might have a super-power.

But if you approach this one as more of a toy than a story--I think it works. Some books are toys. I think this one is more of a toy. I think train-loving toddlers will enjoy this one.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: I Am A Zamboni Machine

I Am a Zamboni Machine. 2018. Scholastic. 8 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I am a Zamboni machine. I drive around and around the rink. I make the ice clean and smooth. I scrape off bumps with my blade. I spray down hot water to leave a perfect sheet of ice.

Premise/plot: This is a novelty-shaped board book for little hockey lovers. It explains what a zamboni machine does in simple sentences. (I'm not sure why the driver has a puppy dog with him!)

My thoughts: Shape books can be great fun. The pages tend to be easier to turn. The unique edges offer even more for little ones to chew. I am so relieved that the author didn't attempt to tell this story in rhyme! The only thing that would make this one better would be if the wheels turned too.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

LEGO Minifigures: Mix and Match

LEGO Minifigures: Mix & Match. Michael Petranek. Illustrated by Paul Lee. 2018. Scholastic. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Monster Scientist, full of silly ideas, uses an experiment to create a Monster Rocker to throw a rocking party.

Premise/plot: This book is a novelty board book that has little ones mixing and matching the heads, bodies, and legs of LEGO minifigures. The resulting stories are ridiculous--which may be just the thing for little ones who love to giggle.

My thoughts: Mix-and-match humor isn't my cup of tea. But I could see this one appealing to the intended age group.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Night Creatures

Peppa Pig: Night Creatures. (Board book). Illustrated by Eone. 2018. Scholastic. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Peppa and George are having a sleepover at Granny and Grandpa Pig's house. Before bedtime, they help Grandpa Pig collect slugs and snails from his garden so they won't eat his vegetables.

Premise/plot: This novelty board book comes with a flash light. The story itself is about Peppa and George Pig learning about night creatures--creatures like slugs, snails, hedgehogs, owls, and bats--from their Grandpa Pig. The book features flaps to lift and a pop-up.

My thoughts: It's a novelty book. If your little one has an obsession with shining flash lights and you want to encourage them in that activity, then this one might be fun for Peppa Pig enthusiasts.

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


© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Let's Go, Rescue Trucks

Let's Go, Rescue Trucks! Scholastic. 2018. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: My lights flash bright red and blue. Helping out is what I do! I am a police car. Make my wheels spin. Let the rescue begin!

Premise/plot: Little ones "meet" different types of rescue trucks in this rhyming novelty board book. The rescue trucks are a police car, an ambulance, tow truck, lifeguard truck, fire truck, snow plow.

My thoughts: All you really need to know is that there are spinning wheels that you can spin from any page--same wheels, different trucks. They make a delightful clackety noise too.




© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: I Love To Gobble You Up

I Love To Gobble You Up. Sandra Magsamen. 2018. Scholastic. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: If kisses were gobbles, I'd gobble you up! I'd gobble your nose...and your cute little toes.

Premise/plot: Do you have a little one you'd like to 'gobble' up with kisses?! This is a sweet and adorable novelty board book perfect to share with little ones.

My thoughts: I LOVED this one. It is sweet, adorable, and precious.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: I Love You Honey Bunny

Board book: I Love You, Honey Bunny. Sandra Magsamen. 2013. Scholastic. 14 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: You're sweeter than the sweetest little honeybee. You fill the world with love--you're amazing to me. I love the way you hope, skip, and jump up and down.

Premise/plot: I Love You Honey Bunny is a novelty board book featuring plush bunny ears. The ears might be a big hit for little hands--and little mouths. The text is simple and super-super-super-sweet. "Adorable" comes to mind.

My thoughts: It's a novelty book. It will either appeal--or not. It's not fantastic, wonderful literature. (Nor is it bad literature.) But reading with little ones is super-important no matter the book. Sharing a book--sharing the experience is great for parents and for little ones. And here's the thing--adults don't always get a say in which book will become a FAVORITE, beloved book. Sometimes the books that adults give the least credit to are the ones that become again-again favorites--with seemingly no rhyme or reason. SERIOUSLY THAT BOOK?! And sometimes books that adults love, love, love and buy hoping that it will be a big hit are big duds. I do believe every book has a right reader that will love and adore it.
 

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Ultimate Collector's Guide to the Beanie Boos

Beanie Boos: Ultimate Collector's Guide. Meredith Rusu. 2018. Scholastic. 192 pages. [Source: Review copy]

 This one contains information or "super stats" on over three-hundred beanie boos. Beanie Boos for those not in the know are Beanie Babies with HUGE eyes. They can come in up to five different sizes: clip, regular, medium, large, and extra-large. Not every single beanie boo comes in all five sizes.

Does the book contain EVERYTHING you might want to know about collecting Beanie Boos? Not really. For one thing it doesn't state *when* a Beanie Boo was released. It doesn't tell if it is current or retired. It doesn't tell if it is/was available only in stores or only online. So if you actually want to BUY a specific Beanie Boo, the only helpful information it gives you is its name.

You might be thinking, well, the book might not be helpful but surely the TY website would be. You'd be WRONG, WRONG, SUPER-WRONG. The website is CONFUSING and FRUSTRATING and doesn't follow any rhyme or reason. (Unless they've changed it since Christmas!!!) Though knowing the exact name would be helpful when searching the website.

What the book does contain are ADORABLE pictures of Beanie Boos. The Beanie Boos are arranged in alphabetical order.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Make & Play Easter

Make and Play Easter. Joey Chou. Nosy Crow. 2018. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Easter is such a wonderful time of year!

Premise/plot: Make and Play Easter is a novely book for preschoolers. It includes sixteen pages of press out pieces to assemble and play with. Included are four children, bunnies, ducks, chickens, and sheep. (Also two enormously out-of-proportion-with-the-rest-of-the-set butterflies.) In addition to the press-out play pieces, it suggest seven Easter-themed activities that parents and children can do together. The activities range from simple--singing "Hot Cross Buns"--to more complex activities like making cupcakes and cookies or decorating Easter eggs.

My thoughts: This is a secular Easter book. For better or worse. For those looking to keep Easter focused on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is a distraction at best. There are plenty of people who would enjoy the book, however. Easter is both a sacred holiday and a secular one. Much like Christmas.

I enjoyed the two Make and Play books on Christmas more than this one.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Make It Now: Princesses

Make It Now: Princesses. Stephanie Rousseau. 2018. HMH. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Choose a princess page to decorate and then pull out that page of the book. Press out the princess, the little animal pal, and each of their stands. Color the princess's dress however you'd like.

Premise/plot: Make It Now: Princesses is a novelty book. If your little one loves playing paper dolls, loves coloring, loves sticking stickers, this one may be for you. There are five princesses to play with.

My thoughts: I like the idea of liking this one. I certainly loved playing paper dolls as a child. One strength I see is that the dolls (and animals) are printed on very sturdy material. One weakness may be that you can't change their outfits.

One thing that bothers me as an adult is that it is only the front of each outfit that needs coloring. The back of each outfit is already colored in. So your options are to try to match the colors of the front and back to the best of your ability, OR, to not care and embrace the chaos of a clashing outfit.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Make It Now: Animals

Make It Now: Animals. Geraldine Cosneau. 2018. HMH. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Choose an animal page to decorate, and then pull that page out of the book. Press out the animal, the little plant, and each of their stands. Color the animal's outfit however you'd like.

Premise/plot: Make It Now: Animals is a novelty book for little ones. It comes with five animal paper dolls. Each animal needs the FRONT of their outfit colored. There are stickers to decorate the paper dolls with as well.

My thoughts: I like the idea of this one. As an adult, it bothers me that only half of each outfit needs coloring. The back of of the paper doll is already colored in. Children may or may not care about the front and back matching. But it would bother me now. I would be anxious about trying to match the colors as closely as possible. But if your little one likes paper dolls, coloring books, or sticker books this one may be a good fit for you.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Baby's Book Tower

Baby's Book Tower. By Leslie Patricelli. 2010. August 2010. Candlewick. 96 pages.

The book contains four board books (book blocks) by Leslie Patricelli:Yummy Yucky, Baby Happy Baby Sad, No No Yes Yes, Quiet Loud.

I love, love, love Leslie Patricelli's board books. She is such a great writer and great illustrator! And these four books are among her best. They're simple. They're fun. They're true-to-life.


Aren't the illustrations fun? I just love them!

From Yummy Yucky:

Spaghetti is yummy.
Worms are yucky.
Blueberries are yummy.
Blue crayons are yucky.

From Quiet Loud:

Whispering is quiet.
Screaming is loud.
Crayons are quiet.
Pots and pans are loud.

No No Yes Yes and Baby Happy Baby Sad rely on the illustrations to tell the story. For example, in Baby Happy Baby Sad, we learn that baby is happy when he's hugging the cat and sad when the cat runs away. Or my favorite, the baby is happy to be naked and sad to be bundled up in a snowsuit. And in No No Yes Yes, readers learn that baby drawing on the wall gets a No No while baby drawing on a piece of paper gets a Yes Yes.

Other book towers include The Very Best Mother Goose Book Tower and Maisy's Book Tower.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers