36. The Rare Bird

36. The Rare Bird. Elisha Cooper. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, cats, imagination, picture books]

First sentence: The Rare Bird flew through the forest, flying so fast he knocked the leaves off the trees.

Premise/plot: The Rare Bird is a quirky little picture book starring a cat with a vivid imagination.

My thoughts: This cat has SOME imagination. The whole book--except the last few pages--is written as if the book was about, you know, an actual actual bird. But it this CAT living his normal cat life but imagining a whole other world, whole other life. He never leaves the house but he's flying across the world and seeing it all.

I liked this one. It was quirky and whimsical.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

33. Dinos That Drive

33. Dinos that Drive. Suzy Levinson. Illustrated by Dustin Harbin. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, poetry]

First sentence: You've never seen a dinosaur
that's into driving cars?
You've never seen a dinosaur
that flies a jumbo jet?
You've never seen a dinosaur
that rockets to the stars?
Then buckle up! Let's take a ride...
YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET!

Premise/plot: Do you have a little one that loves, loves, loves dinosaurs? Do you have a little one that loves vehicles? Things that go, go, go!!! This themed poetry collection might be a great fit for you and your family.

Each dinosaur has a favorite vehicle. The T-Rex is a recurring character that keeps popping back up in the poems. There are dinosaur facts as well in the dialogue bubbles (or speech bubbles).

The style is very Richard Scarry-ish.

My thoughts: It's fun. It's whimsical. I don't think a love of poetry is an absolute must. I do think you need to like dinosaurs!


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

29. Richard Scarry's Great Mystery Collection

29. Richard Scarry's Great Mystery Collection. Richard Scarry. 2025. (1969, 1975) 96 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture books, mysteries]

First sentence of the Great Pie Robbery: Sam Cat and Dudley Pig are detectives. They find children who get lost. They catch robbers who steal things.
First sentence of the Supermarket Mystery: Sam Cat and Dudley Pig are very fine detectives. If anyone has a problem, they will try to solve it.
First sentence of The Great Steamboat Mystery: Mr. and Mrs. Pig had just gotten married. They invited all their friends to a big wedding party aboard the steamboat Sally. Just for fun, they asked everyone to wear a costume. Mr. Pig also asked Sam and Dudley, the famous detectives, to come to the party. He wanted them to see that no wedding presents got stolen. Sam and Dudley wore costumes, too. They dressed like pirates.

Premise/plot: This omnibus collection includes THREE Richard Scarry picture books. Each picture book stars Sam Cat and Dudley Pig. These detectives will keep on trying and trying until the case is SOLVED. The three books are: The Great Pie Robbery, the Supermarket Mystery, and the Great Steamboat Mystery. Each book is fun and silly. Pay attention to the details.

My thoughts: I love, love, love Richard Scarry. I love his worldbuilding. I love his characters. I love his attention to details. These three are mystery picture books. I definitely enjoyed revisiting this author and illustrator.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

103. Tuck Me In

103. Tuck Me In. Nathan W. Pyle. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture books, science, bedtime stories]

First sentence: One night a beach said, "I'm a bit chilly!" The moon smiled and said, "I'll tuck you in!" So the moon pushed the water up onto the sand. But off in the distance, another beach cried, "Heyyy! Where did my blanket go?" And the moon realized she might have just made a mistake.

Premise/plot: Tuck Me In! is a story written for young children to explain the tide. OR T.I.D.E. Tucking In Divided Evenly. It is a FUN, silly, creative way to explain how high tides and low tides work.

My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one! It was such a fun read. Highly recommended.

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

101. Elvis & Romeo

101. Elvis & Romeo. David Soman and Jacky Davis. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, dogs, friendship]

First sentence: Elvis was on his way to the dog park for the first time. So was Romeo. Romeo couldn't wait to make a new friend.

Premise/plot: Elvis & Romeo are not friends yet....but they soon will be after meeting at the dog park.

My thoughts: I read two Elvis & Romeo early readers earlier this month. This picture book is their origin story--or the origin story of their friendship. All three books appear to be published in 2025. If you are a dog lover, this picture book is super cute and adorable. Elvis and Romeo each have personality. It's an enjoyable introduction to this duo.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

90. Norman and the Smell of Adventure

90. Norman and the Smell of Adventure. Ryan T. Higgins. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

First sentence: Norman was a porcupine. His best friend was Mildred. Mildred was a tree. They had favorite things they did day after day. But one morning Norman wanted to try different things. "What do you say, Mildred? Let's go do something new! What do you mean you have other plans?"

Premise/plot: Norman and Mildred have a fight. If you've read the first sentence (above), you know Mildred is a tree. Still, Norman has a "fight" with Mildred his best friend. He gets so angry he sets off on his own adventure. He expects Mildred to come after him. She doesn't. She's a tree. Still, he's determined to have an adventure even if it's on his own. He soon makes other "friends." At the end of his adventure he returns home to Mildred to tell her all about it.

My thoughts: This one was definitely silly. Norman is quite a silly character. Meeting "Sally" (the cactus) was fun. (Norman misreads a "sale" sign on the cactus and thinks it's a name tag). The lesson was simple enough: friends don't have to do everything together. I liked it. However, my expectations were a bit higher for this one. I wanted to love it more than I did. I have LOVED, LOVED, LOVED some of his books in the past, and I was expecting to be charmed or delighted. It was a good enough read. But his other books are better.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

78. Zebra and Yak

78. Zebra and Yak The Backwards Alphabet Book. Paul Friedrich. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]

First sentence: Are you ready to start the alphabet? Let's go! Z is for Zebra.
What? What's going on? Did I miss my cue from Xylophone? I didn't hear X is for Xylophone. I'm not ready.
Z is for Zebra
I get that. I'm Zebra. But you're way early. It's A is for Apple, B is for something, the other letters, and then it's my turn!
Apple wasn't around. We're starting with Z instead.
This is ridiculous! We need to find Apple!

Premise/plot: Zebra and Yak star in a backwards alphabet book. This catches Zebra and the others by surprise! They are all used to being THE END of the alphabet and not the beginning. The book is full of bantering back and forth between the characters and the narrator (as well as between themselves) as the search for Apple continues.

My thoughts: I loved this one. It was fun, silly, exuberant. I loved the humor. I think it would make a great read aloud. The humor I think would make it appealing to those who have even grown a bit beyond the whole 'concept' of alphabet books.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

68. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

68. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio and picture book]

 First sentence: Pete the Cat put on his favorite shirt with four big, colorful, round, groovy buttons. He loved his buttons so much, he sang this song: 

"My buttons, my buttons,
my four groovy buttons.
My buttons, my buttons,
my four groovy buttons."

Premise/plot: Pete the Cat LOVES, LOVES, LOVES his shirt with FOUR groovy buttons. But life happens....and, well, Pete learns that things--including buttons--come and go. Is this book primarily teaching young children subtraction skills OR is it teaching coping skills an invaluable life lesson perhaps even more important than subtraction?

My thoughts: This one was the first Pete the Cat book I read, and I must say it is probably my favorite. I love, love, love it so much!!! If I Love My White Shoes was "teaching" colors, then Four Groovy Buttons is "teaching" subtraction. For, Pete the Cat loses each of his four buttons one by one. But does Pete cry?! Goodness no! I absolutely love the end of this one!!! And the moral this time: "I guess it simply goes to show that stuff will come and stuff will go. But do we cry? Goodness, NO! We keep on singing."

I first met Pete the Cat circa 2013 when I checked out all the Pete the Cat books from the library. Each of the original books has an audio version online, and these audio versions have been uploaded to YouTube many times. Since I am not using the library these days, I revisited one of my favorite, favorite, favorite books by listening to it. 

Mom and I's favorite refrain--which we've used almost daily--certainly weekly--is DID PETE CRY? GOODNESS NO! This picture book is teaching a wonderfully important lesson in how to live life.

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

67. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

 

67. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio]

First sentence:  Pete the Cat was walking down the street in his brand-new white shoes. Pete loved his white shoes so much, he sang this song:

"I love my white shoes,
I love my white shoes,
I love my white shoes."

Premise/plot: Pete the Cat LOVES his white shoes, but will his shoes stay WHITE when he goes on his walk???? And how will he handle it if they're not perfectly-perfectly white? 

My thoughts:  I love, love, love, REALLY REALLY love Pete the Cat. He is my kind of cat. You should definitely download the free song(s) as well, so you can really sing right along with the book(s). True, you could make up your own tune, but, the song is so perfectly catchy.

So. Pete the Cat has white shoes which he loves. But, when he steps in some unpleasant things: strawberries, blueberries, a mud puddle, a bucket of water, does Pete cry?! Goodness no! He just keeps on walking and singing his song! Is this a concept book about colors (white, red, blue, brown)? Is this a book teaching necessary coping skills to preschoolers and kids? A bit of both. But. It is also just a really fun, very entertaining story about a groovy cat! I absolutely LOVE the repetition, and the fact that this is a book everyone can participate and join in on! Kids could even write their own stories.

Again this book has the refrain DID PETE CRY?!?! GOODNESS, NO! 

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

66. Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes

 

66. Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2011. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio AND library] [4 stars]

First sentence: Here comes Pete strolling down the street, rocking red shoes on his four furry feet. Pete is going to school, and he sings this song: I'm rocking in my school shoes, I'm rocking in my school shoes, I'm rocking in my school shoes."

Premise/plot: Pete the Cat is going to school and having a great time!

My thoughts: I really liked this one. I loved seeing Pete go to school. I loved seeing him read in his school shoes (the library), eating in his school shoes (the cafeteria), playing in his school shoes (the playground), etc. (There is also singing, painting, adding, and writing). I loved the descriptions of the school environment, the participatory way in which it's written so it gets everyone involved, and most of all the repetition. DOES PETE WORRY? Goodness no!!!

I first met Pete the Cat circa 2013 when I checked out all the Pete the Cat books from the library. Each of the original books has an audio version online, and these audio versions have been uploaded to YouTube many times. Since I am not using the library these days, I revisited one of my favorite, favorite, favorite books by listening to it. 

You can search YouTube or check out the audio versions on the official page. 

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

65. The Man Who Didn't Like Animals

 

65. The Man Who Didn't Like Animals. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [picture book]

First sentence: There once was a man who loved his tidy home and who didn't like animals. One day, a cat appeared. "I don't like cats," said the man. "Go away." But the cat didn't. The man liked sleeping in the sun. So did the cat. The man liked watching the rain. So did the cat. The man liked to eat dinner precisely at 6 P.M. So did the cat. "Hmph," said the man. "Maybe THIS cat isn't so bad."

My thoughts (preview): I have loved, loved, loved some of Deborah Underwood's previous books. I have LOVED, LOVED, LOVED some of LeUyen Pham's previous books. The fact that one of my favorite writers paired up with one of my all-time favorite illustrators meant only one thing: I MUST READ THE BOOK. I did request my library order a copy! (I am so happy now that others will enjoy it too!) I squealed a bit when I saw it had been ordered and put myself on the hold list....

SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU NEED A BOOK UNTIL IT IS IN YOUR HANDS. 

Premise/plot: How does a [somewhat cranky] man go from hating animals to loving animals????? One day at a time apparently. It starts with one cat....but of course, one cat never stays one cat. As his heart starts growing day by day, his life is transformed. He is no longer the same man by the end of the book! 

There *is* a twist. It does state this twist on the cover. It does. GoodReads likewise spoils it. However, I went into the book not reading the "fine print" if you will. I LOVED being surprised. I would recommend NOT telling little ones before reading it aloud.

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS ONE. There are no words for how much this book stole my heart. 

I highly recommend this one as a read aloud. I could see it working in libraries, in classrooms, and, of course, in homes. I think it would be a great one to interject with questions like WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?  etc.

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

59. Rosemary Long Ears

59. Rosemary Long Ears. Susie Ghahremani. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, dogs, 4 stars]

First sentence: "Let's go find some fun!" Rosemary springs past her best friend with long ears flapping up and down...up and down...like wings flying! Nose to the ground, she sniffs this way, she searches that way, her long ears following along.

Premise/plot: Rosemary the dog with LONG ears has a messy, messy day and needs a bath by the end of it.

My thoughts: Rosemary Long Ears is exactly what you'd expect it to be. A LOVELY picture book starring a long-eared dog that is super-adorable and delightful. Rosemary and her human are out for a walk, and on the walk she gets SUPER dirty. Many adventures are had. Some of the narrative style reminds me of the early Pete the Cat books. 

I enjoyed this one. I think it's a good fit for young readers that enjoy dog stories.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

56. Thunderland

 

56. Thunderland. Maggie Edkins Willis. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 3 stars]

First sentence: I don't like it when its storms. I don't like the inky clouds or the howling winds or the scary shapes in the shadows. I don't like the cracks and the crashes and the rumbles. 

Premise/plot: A young girl is frightened by a storm and her dad comforts her by telling her stories about the storm.

My thoughts: I like this one okay. It's fine. I do think it's good to have picture books with good father figures. And it's sweet how he is able to comfort, distract, and entertain. It's a fun and playful book about a common enough fear. I can't imagine anyone *wanting* to hide under a kitchen sink in a storm but that is probably just overthinking on my part!

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

55. The Peddler of Puddles

 

55. The Peddler of Puddles. Beth Ferry. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book]

First sentence: The Peddler of Puddles never got anywhere fast--possibly because of the weight of his cart, possibly because of some dawdling ducks, but most likely because he was always busy making puddles. With a tiny tug on his cloud and a drip, drop, drip, the Peddler created a puddle just right for a thirsty hummingbird. 

Premise/plot: The Peddler of Puddles has no home of his own....but will he by the end of the book?! Perhaps.

My thoughts: I have LOVED some of Beth Ferry's previous books. This one was fantastic as well. I loved the turtle hero! I loved the writing! I loved the illustrations. I loved the plot or story. It was fun to see him interact with all sorts of puddle-lovers on the road...and on the beach. It was such a lovely story.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

51. Leo the Late Bloomer

 

51. Leo the Late Bloomer. Robert Kraus. Illustrated by Jose Aruego. 1971/1994. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book]

First sentence: Leo couldn't do anything right. He couldn't read. He couldn't write. He couldn't draw. He was a sloppy eater. And, he never said a word.

Premise/plot: Much of Leo the Late Bloomer covers conversations between a mother and father as they discuss their late bloomer, Leo. The father worries that Leo will never, ever bloom. His mother is confident that Leo will bloom. Seasons come and go but Leo hasn't bloomed. Then one day, he does. And Leo's "first word" isn't a first word, but a sentence: "I made it!"

My thoughts: I did not grow up with this one. In fact, I didn't meet Leo until I was in college. But I definitely connected with him once I met him. I liked the optimism of the mother tiger. I could understand, in part, the frustration of the father. And I cheered the happy, happy ending. Overall, I'm not sure that it's perfectly-perfect in terms of modeling what to do if your child has learning difficulties. But I'm not convinced that it has to be. This isn't a how-to book for children or parents.

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

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

47. Cats in Construction Hats

 

47. Cats in Construction Hats. Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. Illustrated by Leeza Hernandez. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, construction, cats, picture book, rhyming books]

First sentence: Yellow cat. Greet hat. Dig this. Clear that. Green cat. Orange hat. Mix this. Pour that. Orange cat. Blue hat. Load this. Move that. Blue cat. Red hat. Lift this. Lower that. Red cat. Purple hat. Place this. Weld that.

Premise/plot: There are MANY cats--hat-wearing-cats--starring in this construction-themed picture book for young readers. But will the construction project go as planned? Or will things go terribly wrong? Can these cats work together as a team to fix the problem? 

My thoughts: I liked this one. There were things I noticed the second time through reading it that I had missed the first time. I'm not sure exactly why there are rats on the scene and how they come into the story. I'm trying not to overthink this one. But you might try looking for rats on each spread to see if there are secondary stories going on that aren't part of the text narrative.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

16. Toto

    

16. Toto. Hyewon Yum. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]

First sentence: Sometimes I wonder
how I would look without Toto.
Would I look pretty?
Would I look plain?

Premise/plot: A little girl with a birthmark (a birthmark she has named Toto) starts school and makes a friend.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I did. I'm not sure I absolutely loved, loved, loved it. But I strongly liked it. I will always be the first to check out stories with characters with birthmarks because of my own experiences. I am glad that more books are coming out in recent years. The text is simple and joyful.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

162-164 Three Picture Books

162. How To Draw a Brave Chicken. Ethan T. Berlin. Illustrated by Jimbo Matison. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]

First sentence: Chickens are known for being....well...chicken, but follow these simple directions and you can draw a brave chicken. 

Premise/plot: This book delivers...in more ways than one. It shows YOU the reader how to draw a chicken, but not only a chicken, a BRAVE chicken that is ready-not-ready for all sorts of thrilling adventures. As the story continues--and the drawing--it gets sillier and sillier. 

My thoughts: I LOVED this silly book. I do have a weakness for chicken-themed picture books. So many great chicken characters exist in children's literature. This one definitely was enjoyable, fun, and SILLY. I think it would be a great read aloud to share with young children. 

163. I Am Wriggly. Michael Rosen. Illustrated by Robert Starling. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [picture book]

First sentence: I am wriggly. Really wriggly. Wriggly, wriggly, wriggly, wriggly. I'm so wriggly....my whiskers wiggle, my ears jiggle, I wriggle on my chair, I wriggle with my bear, I wriggle around and around, I wriggle on the ground.

Premise/plot: Michel Rosen's new picture book features a pink bunny with a LOT of energy. He's an energized bunny, for sure.  

My thoughts: This one is a silly book featuring some rhymes and little punctuation. (The use of commas instead of periods was a choice for sure. Will kids care about this horrible run-on sentence? Definitely not. Probably.) This one could work with children as a read aloud if you, the reader, bring all the energy and drama.

164. Merry Whatmas? Eoin McLaughlin. Illustrated by Polly Dunbar. 2023. 34 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [picture book, holiday, animal fantasy, friendship]

First sentence: "Merry Christmas!" said Fox. "Merry what-mas?" said Hedgehog. "Merry which-mas?" said Tortoise. It was their first Christmas, so they didn't know what Christmas was. 

Premise/plot: Apparently this is the sixth book in a series starring lovely animal characters. This one in particular is holiday-themed. Hedgehog and Tortoise are not at all sure they approve of this thing called Christmas--at least not as described by each of their friends. It's all a bit much...can these two friends find a way to make it work?

My thoughts: I wish I'd been familiar with other books in the series. I think I might have had more attachment to the characters and their friendships. I do know that I still LOVE AND ADORE Polly Dunbar's illustrations. I am not new to her work. The illustrations of this one are so super cute and adorable. 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

146-148 Three Christmas Picture Books

146. Mr. Santa. Jarvis. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [4 stars]

First sentence: Mr. Santa? Is it really you? Did you read my letter? And have you wiped your shoes? Would you like to meet my fishes? Isn't gingerbread delicious? Dogs or cats, Mr. Santa? You have to choose. Mr. Santa, want to hear me play? Can reindeer talk?

Premise/plot: A child has an adventure with Santa....or does she?

So essentially, the whole book captures one girl's one-sided conversation with Mr. Santa. I say one-sided only because the dialogue does not reveal any answers to the questions. I love how question-heavy the book is. It's BUBBLY. In an enthusiastic, joyful way that captures innocent moments of childhood. You know that super-excited, exuberant, can't keep quiet, can't-keep-still level of pure joy and happiness. The book is great at capturing that. 

The ending--for better or worse--is ambiguous. Did the girl dream her adventure with Santa? Or was it 'really real.' The book can certainly meet children where they are perhaps....

My thoughts: I was torn between four and five stars. I certainly enjoyed this one. It reminds me in some ways of Polar Express. However, Polar Express is firmly in the Santa is REAL camp. Polar Express the book is also more fantastical. This was a much simpler story. The dialogue was great. I could see these questions being genuine, authentic questions that a kid might have. 

I'm also torn on if Mr. Santa should have talked within the book. His not talking leans me towards it being more an imaginative friend situation. [She of course heard EVERY answer to every question.]

147. Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho. William Boniface. Illustrated by Julien Chung. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

First sentence: A told B,
and B told C,
"I'll meet you in the branches
of the Christmas tree."
"Whee!" said D to E F G
"We'll be the decorations
on the Christmas tree."
Chicka chicka boom boom!
Everbyody zoom zoom! 

Premise/plot: A holiday themed addition to the Chicka-Chicka series of books. The original Chicka Chicka Boom Boom was written by Bill Martin Jr. THAT book is a classic. This one features the letters of the alphabet having adventures/misadventures in a Christmas tree. 

My thoughts: Predictable for sure. I am conflicted between three stars and four stars. I think adults who grew up on the original may react differently than actual children who may just see this as a joyful way to continue the fun of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. It can never be the original, but it can be fun or lean towards fun. And the good news of it being holiday-themed is that it is just around for a few weeks.

148. Christmas at Hogwarts. J.K. Rowling. Illustrate by Ziya Gao. 2024. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

First sentence: Christmas was coming. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow. 

Premise/plot: This is an illustrated [slightly abridged] chapter from the first Harry Potter novel in picture book format. The chapter, of course, being the Christmas chapter. (I do appreciate how many/most of the novels do feature holiday stories).

My thoughts: Is it necessary? Maybe. Maybe not. I do think the answer depends on YOUR reaction to the illustrations. The illustrations DO steal the show, if you will. Very atmospheric. 

Again, I'm torn on the rating. The illustrations were great. Definitely enjoyed looking at the illustrations, noticing all the details, the expressions, etc. But would I reach for this over the novel? I'm not sure. 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

144-145 Two Picture Books That Slightly Disappointed

144. The Little Chefs: Three Stories by Rosemary Wells. 2024. [October 22] 80 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] 

First sentence: When Mama came home from a long day's work, Sylvie made her a cup of tea with honey.

Premise/plot: Three illustrated short stories starring animal families. Each story revolves around a failed cooking/baking attempt--usually by a child. The "little chefs" come to the rescue via a hidden telephone (landline, old school telephone]. Each story is introduced by historical facts about cooking. The stories are written in rhyme.

My thoughts: This is an odd book. I have so many great memories of Rosemary Wells' books. However, this one just didn't work for me. I'd rather have one great story than three smaller stories. I also didn't quite "get" the history lessons. Because the audience for the stories probably aren't the same audience as the history lessons. Also I can't imagine Rosemary Wells' typical preschool/toddler audience sitting still for three stories. And the stories are so similar in many ways. Yes, different families, different recipe disasters, but still.

145. Brandon and the Totally Troublesome Time Machine. Seth Fishman. Illustrated by Mark Fearing. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [picture book]

 First sentence: The morning started like any other day except that....Brandon invented a time machine!!

Premise/plot: Brandon has invented a time machine. However Brandon struggles with time management and a time machine can't solve all his problems. Especially when self-sabotage is at play. Can Brandon learn to better manage time?

My thoughts: I was here for the silliness. I loved the premise of this one. I do wish, in part, it was less lesson-y. On the one hand, it was relatable! It was slightly funny to see Brandon so at odds with himself. On the other hand, it leaned more towards teaching a lesson than telling a story here and there. Now, it is more silly than serious. I did enjoy it some. I just didn't love, love, love, crazy love it. I think the potential to love was definitely there.

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers