161. Outside, Inside

Outside, Inside. LeUyen Pham. 2021. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Something strange happened on an unremarkable day just before the season changed. Everybody who was outside...went inside. 

Premise/plot: LeUyen Pham's newest picture book tells the story--in a child appropriate manner--of the COVID-19 pandemic, well, the early days of the pandemic. The book was published in January of 2021; and probably written and edited several months prior. Still, even though it was in the "midst" of the pandemic, it ends with hope and promise of better days.

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, LOVE LeUyan Pham. I do. She's one of my favorite illustrators of all time. She's illustrated so many picture books, early readers, and chapter books that I have just loved, loved, loved. Occasionally, she writes and illustrates a book. Such is the case with her newest. It is a gentle story. It is beautifully written.

Quotes:
“Everyone. Everywhere. All over the world.
Everyone just went inside, shut their doors, and waited.
Well, almost everyone.
Some people needed to be…
...where they needed to be
Outside, the sky was quiet,
but the wind still blew
and the birds kept singing.”

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

160. A House

A House. Kevin Henkes. 2021. [September] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: A house. Where is the door? What color is it?

Premise/plot: Kevin Henkes' newest book is A House. What you see is what you get--a simple drawing of a house, simple questions, very little--if any--plot. And yet despite its simplicity and repetitive nature it manages to ask and answer the question, "When does a house become a home?" It's an indirect question, to be sure.

My thoughts: Critics seem to love, love, love this one. It's received multiple starred reviews, and has even been called brilliant.

It is simple. It starts out asking extremely basic questions about the concepts of colors and shapes. It moves beyond those concepts to others--night and day, different types of weather, etc. But it isn't until towards the end where those questions become a bit more abstract. The people are drawn or rendered more like toys--think Fisher-Price Little People, old school--than actual people. I haven't decided if that is charming or weird. On the one hand, perhaps the house is a toy house??? On the other hand??? I don't have one. If it's not a toy house in a child's room and the author is playing around with us--the readers--then it's just strange.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

159. Otter: Best Cake Ever

Otter: Best Cake Ever. Sam Garton. 2021. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Today is Teddy's birthday. We are baking a cake. Shh! Don't tell Teddy. What kind of cake would Teddy like?

Premise/plot: Otter wants to celebrate--really CELEBRATE--Teddy's birthday right. And that, of course, means CAKE. Can Otter (and friends) make Teddy a cake??? Will their party be a success???

My thoughts: I don't remember reading other Otter books in the past. But if this book is any indication, I've been missing out. The book is super playful and a bit ambiguous. There's Otter and Otter Keeper, but then there's Otter's friends too....they appear to be toys....just toys, only toys. But not to Otter. To Otter his friends are just as involved in making and baking (and eating) the cake as he is. It's a fun, playful, imaginative book. I liked it.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

158. Apple of My Pie

Apple of My Pie (Norma and Belly #2) Mika Song. 2021 [June] 128 page. [Source: Library]

First sentence: ...And the animals waited for morning.

Premise/plot: This second book in the series begins with Pops reading a story to Little Bee. Soon these two are off on an adventure...or misadventure as the case may be. Their desire for apples...well...it leads Pops into danger. It may be up to Little Bee (and Norma and Belly) to FIND and SAVE Pops before it's too late.

This adventure leads them on a field trip of sorts...to see how apples go from ORCHARDS to pies.

My thoughts: I didn't like this one as much as the first book. I still liked it. I think my favorite part was paying careful attention to the pie...

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

157. Donut Feed the Squirrels

Donut Feed the Squirrels (Norma and Belly #1) Mika Song. 2020. 112 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Belly! Wake up, I'm making pancakes!

Premise/plot: Donut Feed the Squirrel is the first in a new graphic novel series for young readers. It stars squirrels. Norma and Belly are introduced in this one! Good news: Norma is making pancakes!!! Bad news: Norma BURNS the pancakes. Good news: the squirrels SMELL something delicious--donuts! Bad news: It may be difficult for the squirrels to GET the donuts. In fact, it may take a genius plan....can Norma and Belly (with a little help) get their paws on donuts???

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It was fun. It was funny. I loved seeing the plan in motion. The bit with the ROLLER SKATES was just great fun. I think it's a promising start to a new series.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers