235-239. Five Fox Books on Parade

235. Fox and the Jumping Contest. Corey R. Tabor. 2016. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book]

First sentence:  The jumping contest was only a few days away, and Fox was determined to win first prize. He would put the trophy right there, just above the fireplace. 

Premise/plot: Fox is a schemer. He is scheming how to "win" the jumping contest. The scheme, of course, involves cheating. The cover clearly shows *how* he plans to cheat. How will his friends respond to his schemes?

My thoughts: I believe this is the first book starring Fox. It wasn't my first to read, however, but it was the first published. Having gotten to know this character--and the characters of his many friends--I can say I enjoyed this one. I'm not sure how I would have felt without some attachment already to Fox (and friends).

 236. Fox and the Bike Ride. Corey R. Tabor. 2017. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book]

First sentence: It was the morning of the bike ride--the Annual Tour de Tip-Top, Slow-and-Steady,There-and-Back bike ride (plus snacks). The other animals were very excited. Fox was not. 

Premise/plot: Fox is a schemer. This time he is scheming how to add ACTION and action-adventure and danger-action-adventure, etc., to the annual bike ride. His friends may like things boring, regular, or traditional. But Fox wants more. Can he get all the action he craves? Will his friends actually like it?

My thoughts: Fox is sneaky. I enjoyed this one. It is packed with silliness and action. I can imagine this would make a hilarious read aloud if you've got some performer in you. I definitely enjoyed this one more than Fox and the Jumping Contest.

237. Fox is Late (I Can Read) Corey R. Tabor. 2018. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader]

First sentence: Fox is late. Fox is late for lunch.

Premise/plot: Fox is late for lunch....but with a little help from a skateboard...Fox might make up his time after all. 

My thoughts: This one has a LOT of repetition which can be very fun. Go, Fox, Go! It was silly and playful. I loved seeing the expressions on all of the faces. His friends are certainly puzzled and possibly irritated by his latest antics. 

238. Fox the Tiger. Corey R. Tabor. 2018. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader]

First sentence: "I wish I were a tiger," says Fox. "Tigers are big. Tigers are fast. Tigers are sneaky. Tigers are the best." Fox has an idea.

Premise/plot: Fox the Tiger won the Theodore Seuss Geisel Award for 2019. In this I Can Read early reader, Fox has an IDEA that becomes contagious. He wants to be a tiger...so he paints on some stripes. He then goes out to face the world as a tiger...or does he? Will his paint fool anyone?

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. It was FUN. I am glad that Fox's idea is so contagious. I loved seeing what would happen next. (For example, the turtle decides to become a RACE CAR and paints the number 4 on his shell.) I loved the text and story. I loved the illustrations. I loved the humor--and the heart.  

239. Fox at Night. Corey R. Tabor. 2021. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader]

First sentence: It is night, and Fox is scared. "The night is full of monsters," says Fox. Fox looks for monsters.

Premise/plot: Will Fox find monsters when he looks for them? Or will he find new friends?

My thoughts: This one does not feature the usual cast of characters in the Fox books. (Likely they are all asleep.) It was cute and fun. I enjoyed the funny twist ending.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

233-234. Picture Book Parade

233. The Scariest Kitten in the World by Terrifying Kitten with help from Kate Messner. Illustrated by MacKenzie Haley. 2023. (August) 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: WARNING THIS IS A VERY SCARY STORY. IT'S SO CREEPY AND SPINE-TINGLING THAT IT WILL SCARE YOU RIGHT OUT OF YOUR SNEAKERS.

Premise/plot: A "scary" kitten, perhaps the "scariest" kitten "in the world" is narrating this one and speaking directly to you, the reader. It is written in second person. It is a suspenseful or "suspenseful" story starring a kitty and her friends. 

My thoughts: I liked it well enough. It isn't quite The Monster at the End of the Book. But it is fun, silly, playful. And it has a cat...the illustrations are adorable as well.

234. It's Fall! Renee Kurilla. 2023. [August] 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: Colors bursting, shadows tall.
There's lots to celebrate--it's fall!
Early-morning sunny skies.
Back to school with new supplies.
In class, our teacher asks to hear
what things we love this time of year.

Premise/plot: This picture book celebrates all things fall/autumn. (Think activities in September, October, and November.) It does feel like it is segmented into three distinct categories: the start of school, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. It is written in rhyming verse.

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the illustrations. The color palette is as awesome as you'd expect. I adored the end pages. The illustrations just won my heart. The text is solid. I liked the rhyming. It does seem to have rhythm--not all rhyme does. So it is 'proper' enough in that aspect.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

232. Virginia Wouldn't Slow Down

Virginia Wouldn't Slow Down: The Unstoppable Dr. Apgar and Her Life-Saving Invention. Carrie A. Pearson. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. 2023. [August] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence:  Did you know that you took your first test just one minute after you were born? The test showed doctors and nurses how healthy you were, if you could breathe on your own, or if you needed help--fast!

Premise/plot: This is a nonfiction picture book biography of Dr. Virginia Apgar. Perhaps the test named after her, the Apgar test, is more well known than her personal story...

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one so much. I love picture book biographies--usually. I love, love, love, love babies. I loved the illustrations. The story was engaging.

I had heard of the Apgar test. But I didn't know the full story. Now I have a better grasp of that story.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

230-231. Two more picture books

NO is all I know! Chris Grabenstein. Illustrated by Leo Espinosa. 2023. [May] 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: Oliver McSnow would always say no! 
no matter what you asked him.
Did he brush is teeth? NO!
Was he hungry? NO!
Would he clean up his mess? NO!
Did he want to swing on the swings? NO!
Oliver said NO! so many times...his NO! started to grow.

Premise/plot: NO! Is All I Know stars a [stubborn] toddler named Oliver. NO is his word of choice for almost all situations. He does manage somehow someway to always say yes to macaroni and cheese. But perhaps his parents just don't ask him if he wants it. Each spread offers an opportunity to laugh. The no-situation is being slightly exaggerated, in my opinion.

My thoughts: I LOVED this one. Is it for kids? Is it for adults? Is it for everyone? Parents have at the very least two options--neither good for the exact-in-the-moment-nowness of a fit--laugh or cry. Can you find the humor--at some point in time--in the situation? Because, to be honest and fair, many fit-throwing situations are ridiculous....later. This book doesn't illustrate HOW his parents handle the no-ness of it all. This focuses solely on Oliver. [Which I think is probably the best call. A book about the parents deciding HOW to deal with Oliver would be a lot less funny. Though definitely realistic for them to come up with a game plan.) It is written as a comedy. 

I do like that Oliver meets his cousin (who always says yes) and the situation begins to resolve. Is it realistic? No. Is it fun? Mostly.

Jungle Cat. Andrew Larsen. Illustrated by Udayana Lugo. 2023. [May] 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: "Bob!" says Pearl. "Come in!" 

Premise/plot: An apartment cat (named Bob) makes the rounds to ALL four apartments. He likes to think of himself as a jungle cat exploring and having adventures. But one adventure--an adventure outside the apartment complex--brings him to the realization that maybe he's not so wild after all. The apartment residents come together to 'rescue' "their" cat.

My thoughts: I didn't care for this one. At least I didn't care for it as much as I wanted to. I love, love, love, love, love cats. I wanted to love this picture book starring a mischievous cat. I just didn't. It is a fine book. There's no reason why other readers wouldn't enjoy it...or even love it.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

228-229. Two picture books

228. Mine! Candace Fleming. Illustrated by Eric Rohmann. 2023. [August] 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: In a tall, tall tree,
at the tip-tippy-top,
hung a single read apple,
just about to drop.

Premise/plot: Various animals--of all shapes and sizes--all wait in anticipation for the apple to drop from the tree. But WHO will get the apple? Each sees the apple as MINE. The story is told in rhyme.

My thoughts: I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the illustrations. The text is good, solid. But for me personally it was the illustrations that took it from "really like" to "love." I thought the story was cute and playful. It has perhaps slightly more suspense than most picture books. It was interesting to see WHO got the apple in the end.

229. Who Made This Mess? Laura Gehl. Illustrated by Aleksandar Stojsic. 2023. [July] 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: Loud moos in the night
gave Farmer a fright.
Who made the loud moos?

Premise/plot: Expect the unpredictable. Don't be led astray by common sense OR rhyming clues. For example, COWS (which you can see outside his window) are not the ones mooing.) It is instead a silly owl. This book celebrates all things silly. And it is a celebration...or sorts...though not a "birthday party."

My thoughts: I didn't love this one as much as I wanted to love it. I'm all for celebrating silly. (Though not all the time. There's a time and place for pure silliness and nonsense.) But the illustrations just weren't my personal cup of tea. It didn't help that I read this one back to back with MINE (see above) which I absolutely adored--mainly for the illustrations. That being said, I could see this one being used in libraries and classrooms as a group read aloud to young children.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers