342-343. Two Early Readers (Last Reviews of the Year)

342. Frog Can Hop (Ready to Read, Ready to Go) Laura Gehl. Illustrated by Fred Blunt. 2023. [December] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Frog can hop. Pig can flop. Frog can mop. Pig can flop. Frog can shop. Pig can flop.

Premise/plot: Frog and Pig are friends....mostly. However, Frog does tend to carry the load while Pig, well, Pig mainly just flops, and flops, and flops. But when Frog drops....well, Pig may just have the opportunity to do more than flop.

My thoughts: This is an early reader for those just beginning to learn to read. The illustrations do some of the heavy lifting in terms of storytelling. The plot moves forward mainly because the illustrations clearly convey the action and characters. The simple text is focusing on the '-op' family. (Bop, chop, drop, flop, hop, mop, plop, pop, shop, stop) It also includes two basic sight words: "and" and "can." 

I do think this one has a plot. It is more than just practicing sounding out op words. I enjoyed the humor.

343. Monkey Cam (Critter Cam) Margie Palatini. Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. 2023. [December] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Yawn.

Premise/plot: This year there have been a whole line of books in the Critter Cam series. This one stars a monkey wearing a camera in an helmet. The plot is super simple. Readers observe the world from two perspective--third person perspective and first person perspective. Monkey is having quite a day.

My thoughts: I liked this one okay. Not my favorite in the series. Not my least favorite in the series. It does feature "monkey speak" which some may enjoy. I certainly enjoyed monkey chatter as a kid.

 

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

341. Sabrina Sue Loves the Moon

Sabrina Sue Loves the Moon. Priscilla Burris. 2023. [December] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Sabrina Sue lived on a farm. One night she saw the moon and the stars. I want to go to the moon, she thought. She thought about the moon in the daytime. She dreamed about the moon at night. She sang about it. 

Premise/plot: Sabrina Sue is a fantastic chicken who stars in her own series of books for young readers. This book is part of a larger series. Sabrina Sue has always been a dreamer--a big dreamer though small in size, and obviously a chicken at that. In this one she dreams of going to the moon....

My thoughts: I've greatly enjoyed Sabrina Sue in the past. I didn't quite love this newest adventure. Some of her dreams seem lofty and difficult, but a chicken going to the moon is a bit too over-the-top for my overthinking brain! Sometimes I have to be in the right mood to enjoy. Definitely some books you have to suspend your disbelief to fully embrace and enjoy. 

I do recommend the series. 

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

340. The 13-Story Treehouse

The 13-Story Treehouse: Monkey Mayhem! Andy Griffiths. Illustrated by Terry Denton. 2011. 256 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: Hi, my name is Andy. This is my friend Terry. We live in a tree.

Premise/plot: Andy and Terry live in a treehouse--a LARGE treehouse at that. They write books together. They are past due for their current book, oh no! And they are having trouble concentrating on their work, their project. They keep getting distracted by MANY things (many monkey related, though somehow sea monsters also make an appearance). Will they ever finish their book? And if they do finish their book will children like you read it?

My thoughts: Very meta. I think this one may have kid appeal. I am NOT the target audience. The humor, in my opinion, is very age-specific. There's a target age group--or humor/maturity phase--that this one was written for directly. Granted humor is always subjective. It is the first in a series. 

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

339. Hanukkah Upside Down

Hanukkah Upside Down. Elissa Brent Weissman. Illustrated by Omer Hoffmann. 2023. [September] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Noah lived in New York. His cousin Nora lived in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Premise/plot: Noah and Nora are cousins who live on opposite sides of the world, but the two (and their families) share the same faith. This new picture book follows both Noah and Nora (and their correspondence) as they celebrate Hanukkah. 

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I liked seeing how Hanukkah is celebrated in summer AND winter. There are many things that are the same--traditional, culturally familiar--and things that are different. 

This book offers a unique offering of a Hanukkah themed picture book.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

331-338. Another Board Book Stack

331. This Little Piggy (Let's Count to 10) Jarvis. 2019. 22 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: One little piggy went to market. Two little piggies had a car but couldn't park it. Three little piggies learned how to knit. Four little piggies did their best to keep fit. Five little piggies played the bongos.

Premise/plot: A counting concept board book for little ones starring pigs. The text gets sillier and sillier with every turn of the page. 

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one. I thought it was silly and funny. I really loved the rhyme that went with the number nine. 

Not all counting books are funny. All may help teach little ones to count to ten. But not all are packed with piggy humor.

332. Picken. Mary Murphy. 2019. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Mix and match the farm animals. 

Premise/plot: This is an interactive board book for parents to share with little ones. It has a unique format. One can open up the pages simultaneously and have all the animals be matched perfectly. OR one can mix and match all the farm animals. One can choose to be "proper" or "whimsical."

My thoughts: Will this one be appealing to every parent? Maybe. Maybe not. Same with little ones, of course. One can't really predict how other little ones will react--what they will find amusing. This one has the potential for some laughs. But no guarantees. I can imagine a scenario where parents and young readers can have a lot of fun. For example, what noise do you think a picken (cross between a chicken and a pig) would make?

333. We Love the Farm (Two Books in One) Rachael Saunders. 2019. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence from big book: Who says MOO, MOO?
First sentence from little book: cow

Premise/plot: This board book has a unique format to it. "Two" books in one. The two books obviously go together. The big book asks a question, the little one supplies the answer. There are vocabulary words sprinkled on all the pages. Plenty to point out to your little one. 

My thoughts: This one is cute. It is fun to flip through the little book. I won't lie. One could even add a little humor to story time--if you so desire. One could flip to the wrong answer. And you could be "corrected" by your little one. Does a chicken go moo? NO! This one definitely has potential.

334. We Love Animals (Two Books In One) Lo Cole. 2019. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence of the big book? Who lives on the plains?
First sentence of the little book? lion

Premise/plot: This board book has a unique format to it. "Two" books in one. The two books obviously go together. The big book asks a question, the little one supplies an answer. Each spread shows other animals that also live in the region/type of region. There is more than one right answer. But the little book reveals an animal not on the other spread.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I liked it. I thought it was cute. Definitely potential for parents and little ones to interact with each other. It is fun to turn the pages of the little book. One could definitely read this book straightforward. Or one could add a little to it. For example? "Who lives in the sea? Does a camel live in the sea? No. Does an owl live in the sea? No. Does a dolphin live in the sea? YES!"

This one would pair well with Baby Einstein's Baby Noah. Just saying.

335. I Thought I Saw an Elephant. Lydia Nichols. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I thought I saw an elephant? Is it behind the ice cream shop?
I thought I saw an elephant? Is it in the pond?

Premise/plot: A child "sees" an elephant EVERYWHERE, but can you find the elephant too?

My thoughts: I wanted to absolutely love, love, love this one. I love elephants. I like interactive books with sliders. I do like this one. I do. I just don't love it. I thought perhaps it would go in a different direction. But if your little one is up for a game of hide and seek -- or slide and seek -- with an elephant, there's one to be found on every page.

336. I Thought I Saw A Bear. Lydia Nichols. 10 Pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I thought I saw a bear. Is it in the car? I thought I saw a bear? Is it on the boat?

Premise/plot: A child "sees" a bear everywhere. 

My thoughts: I am SO conflicted. On the one hand, the illustrations are so adorable and fun. The sliders are super cute, fun to manipulate, silly. On the other hand, there is no fun in the seeking when they aren't hidden in the first place. I overthink things. It's what I do. The bear couldn't be more obvious either way the slider is slid. There's no question or doubt...and while it's fun to play with the slides...not sure this one has a point.

337. Colors with Little Fish. Lucy Cousins. 2019. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I am Little Fish, swimming in the sea. I love spotting colors. Can you spot with me?

Premise/plot: This concept book--concept being colors--stars Little Fish. Little Fish has his own series of books. (Random thought: did he ever got his own television show like Maisy? And if not, why not?)

My thoughts: I like Little Fish. It's been a long while since I've read and reviewed any books starring Little Fish. And to be honest, I haven't been reviewing many Maisy books lately either. This one is nice. It would work as an introduction to the much longer series. Or it would be good if your little one already loves Little Fish.

338. Our Little Love Bug. Sandra Magsamen. 2007/2018. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Your smile is so sweet, it makes our days. You brighten our world in so many ways. You fill our lives with lots of love.

Premise/plot: This board book for the very young features felt on every spread. The message is syrupy sweet. That could be a VERY good thing--depending on your mood. The text is super simple, predictably sweet. The illustrations are bright....and there's felt.

My thoughts: I'm conflicted between thinking this would be great for the youngest of the young because of the simplicity of the book and it's super-sweet (though not terribly exciting narrative). In some ways, this one screams out bedtime book. But then there's the felt. Is it meant to be interactive? Is it meant for an audience that is old enough to be manipulating it, experiencing the different tactiles?

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers