Kindergarrrten Bus

Kindergarrrten Bus. Mike Ornstein. Illustrated by Kevin M. Barry. 2018. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Ahoy, boy! What? It be ye first day of kindergarrrten? Well, don't worry, laddie--it be my first day as a bus driverrr! Climb aboard!

Premise/plot: What if your bus driver was a pirate? Such is the case in this humorous picture book about important firsts. It is his first day on the job--will he run the bus like it is a ship? It is the boy's first day of kindergarrrten--assuming that the bus makes it to the school. The bus driver may just inspire some courage to the boys and girls, and the boys and girls may just inspire some courage to the bus driver. For he loses his courage when his faithful parrot, Polly, flies out the window.

My thoughts: This was a fun read. I think it would make a great read aloud--especially if you can do voices.

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

© 2018 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Small Saul

Small Saul. Ashley Spires. 2011. March 2011. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.

Small Saul loved the sea. He loved its vastness, its calmness, its blueness.

Small Saul wants to be a pirate--a real pirate. But he's not only small--much, much smaller than your average pirate, he's also different, you might say special. Small Saul does not have the strengths generally associated with pirates. He has his own way of seeing the world, his own way of doing things. And the other pirates, well, they don't always understand Small Saul. In fact, most of the time, they don't understand him at all. Can Small Saul find his own place on the pirate ship? Can Small Saul's uniqueness be a blessing instead of a curse?

I liked this one. I didn't love it. Not like I loved Ashley Spires' Binky the Space Cat books. But it was fun; it was enjoyable.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers