252-253. Pizza My Heart

252. Norma and Belly #3: Pizza My Heart. Mika Song. 2022. 96 pages. [Source: Library] [Early chapter book; graphic novel]

First sentence:  So, Norma, what's for lunch? 
Well, our choices are: acorn soup, acorn bread, acorn pie, tacos, or acorn salad.
Tacos.
Acorn tacos.
Oh.

Premise/plot: This is the third book in this squirrel food graphic novel series for young readers. The first two books are Donut Feed the Squirrels and Apple of My Pie. Norma and Belly are two of many food-obsessed squirrels we meet in this series. In this one, misadventures [and adventures] center around PIZZA. Will the squirrels get to eat some pizza?

My thoughts: I like the series. Each book seems to center on a different food. All seem to be humorous misadventures. I am an overthinker--which I've mentioned before. I do wish these squirrels looked more like squirrels. But I enjoy their food-obsession and their silliness.

253. One Smart Cookie (Norma and Belly #4). 2023. [August] 112 pages. [Source: Library] [early chapter book; graphic novel]

First sentence: This is the spot, Belly.
This is where you buried the acorns, Norma?
Yes.

Premise/plot: This one stars a lot of squirrels: Norma, Belly, Little Bee, and Gramps. These are food-obsessed squirrels. In this one the squirrels are interested in fortune cookies and the fortune inside the fortune cookies. They want to write the fortunes inside! Will these squirrels be able to type up the messages? Will they get their hands on cookies?

My thoughts: This one may just be my favorite of the four I've read. Maybe. It was definitely silly and fun.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

251. Board book: Bunny Rabbit Show

The Bunny Rabbit Show! Sandra Boynton. 2014/2023. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [board book]

First sentence:  Ladies and Gentlemen.
Can you hear me?
Hello?
I just want to say...
It's THE BUNNY RABBIT SHOW!
Here we go!
We are ten terrific rabbits and we like to dance and sing.
Ten terrific rabbits. We can do most anything.
We're very good at hopping. We're hopping in a row.
We're not so good at stopping. It's the BUNNY RABBIT SHOW!

Premise/plot: It's the BUNNY RABBIT SHOW. And most of it is in song...written in near perfect rhyme with so much rhythm. It's just addictive. 

My thoughts: I personally was hearing "We are the Buddy Bears." This tune worked well for about 90% of the book. It wasn't a perfect fit, obviously. But it worked well. 

This book was cute, adorable, funny. I think it would make a great silly read aloud for little ones.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

248-250. Animal Books Based on True Stories

248. Mighty Muddy Us. Caron Levis. Illsutrated by Charles Santoso. 2023. [October] 40 pages. [Source: Review copy] [picture book]

First sentence: "Tah-tra, tah-tra!" Enid trumpeted her welcome song--finally she was a big sister! The world was just a blur to Baby, but, wriggling and smiling, he reached towards his sister's bouncing sounds.

Premise/plot: Enid and Ely are siblings--big sister, baby brother. As a newborn, Ely was unable to stand which puts him at GREAT risk. Standing is a must for reaching nourishment. And milk and water are essential. Enid stands by to encourage, support, care for, watch out for her baby brother. Will he survive? 

My thoughts: This picture book is based on a true story of an elephant family. Obviously, it's animal fantasy since it is narrated by an elephant. But an author's note shares the true story. There is a lot of text. The amount of text plus the an intense amount of animal in peril makes this a good fit for mid to upper elementary school. (I'd say second grade on up). I can't see this one personally being a good fit for preschoolers though if your little one is obsessed with elephants and has a longer than average attention span, then this one could still work.

I loved this one. I do love, love, love elephants. I like fiction and nonfiction books starring elephants. I was worried for Ely. But I pushed through that worry and was relieved to find a HAPPY, uplifting story. 

The illustrations are WONDERFUL.

 249. Baby Badger (Adventures in Fosterland) Hannah Shaw. 2023. [January] 173 pages. [Source: Library] [illustrated chapter book] 

First sentence: Whoosh. A gust of freezing air blew through the streets, filling the alley with sparkly snow.

Premise/plot: Hannah Shaw, aka "Kitten Lady," is sharing true stories as animal fantasy in an illustrated chapter book series. Badger was/is an orphaned kitty. His first "litter-mates" or "family" were stuffed animals. He is adopted by another mom cat and her kittens. But is Badger ready to exchange his first family (stuffed animals) for a real family? 

My thoughts: This one was super adorable. And it is set during the winter holidays (Christmas, etc.). It is definitely animal fantasy. Badger may be based on a true story--how she came to find her forever family--but the fantasy elements are STRONG. Cats don't really behave as cats. This goes beyond capturing things through a cat's point of view. This is neither good nor bad--it just is. I definitely found Badger and his new family cute, adorable, sweet, lovely.

250. Snowpea The Puppy Queen (Adventures in Fosterland) Hannah Shaw. 2023. [July) 144 pages. [Source: Library] [illustrated chapter book]

First sentence: Snowpea's bedroom was spotless. The cat beds were freshly fluffed, and all the little toys were tucked away neatly into the toy bin. Not so much as a speck of litter was out of place.

Premise/plot: Snowpea is a foster kitten with OCD. Perhaps that's not the best way to sum it all up, but I think it may suffice. Snowpea likes things just so. She is very opinionated and gets a bit anxious when things aren't just so. She's given the task, if you will, of raising puppies--two of them. These are her 'litter-mates.' But these puppies don't care about Snowpea's long list of rules. Can these puppies help relax Snowpea? 

My thoughts: Again, based loosely on a true story. But the characterization is all fantasy. The characters--the cats--in these books don't really act like cats. Again, not necessarily a bad thing. But if you want animals to act like animals, then it might be upsetting to see them so human. For example, Snowpea likes to pick up each piece of food with her paws and bring it to her mouth. And she's training the dogs to do the same. This just isn't realistic--in my opinion--to see animals eating food with their hands like people do. Again, I'm not horribly bothered. This is animal fantasy through and through. I liked this one well enough.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

243-247. Picture book parade

243. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! Mo Willems. 2023. [September] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Ho. Ho. Whoa! Oh, Hello. Happy holidays! Season's greetings! Festive feathers and peaceful plumage! Jingle bells! Joy! And... Can I drive the sleigh!?!?

Premise/plot: Pigeon is back. This is his first holiday book, I believe. (Though I could be wrong). He wants to drive Santa's sleigh...or does he????? 

My thoughts: I love Pigeon. I do. Perhaps not as much as Elephant and Piggie. But I love, love, love Mo Willems. And Pigeon is always a delight. I've never really been disappointed by any of his adventures. Is this one my new favorite? Probably not. Is it in my top five? Probably yes. Though I can't imagine many parents would be overjoyed if this one became again-again-again in the summer time.

244. Mel Fell. Corey R. Tabor. 2021. 40 pages. [Source: Library] 

First sentence: One day, when Mama was away, Mel decided it was time to learn to fly. She had been in the nest long enough.

Premise/plot: Mel fell...but will Mel also fly? This one joins Mel in her journey down....and up. It is a coming of age story for young readers about the beginning initial steps of independence.

My thoughts: A fun flip of a book. It is not your traditional reading experience--physically. There's some twisting, turning, manipulating of the pages. But it works well. The format becomes part of the storytelling experience. I don't know that I loved it more than Tabor's Fox books. But I definitely enjoyed it.

245. Who's A Goose? Scott Stuart. 2021/2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] 

First sentence: One goose is goose. And two goose is geese! Bill, will you please keep quiet?! I'm trying to teach!

Premise/plot: A concept picture book about collective nouns. 

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I loved the narration. Bill and Bruce just made me smile! I learned a few new-to-me collective nouns as well. For example, I learned about a BAND of gorillas. I definitely recommend this one. The illustrations were perfectly perfect.

246. Pumpkin Day at the Zoo. Susan Meissner. Illustrated by Pablo Pino. 2023. [July] 32 pages. [Source: Library] 

First sentence: Morning sun
shines down on the zoo, on giraffes
and camels and kangaroos.
All the animals in all their places,
leaning and looking with eager faces.

Premise/plot: Picture book written in verse. ALL the animals at the zoo enjoy eating pumpkins. That's it. The entire plot. 

My thoughts: I didn't necessarily find the rhythm of the rhymes--the flow of the book--to be all that great. Not bad, of course. Certainly serviceable. I enjoyed the illustrations. The book itself is entertaining enough. Definitely worth checking out from the library in the fall. Definitely worth including in your line-up of zoo-themed or animal-themed picture books.

247. Cinderella and a Mouse Called Fred. Deborah Hopkinson. Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. 2023. [August] 48 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture Book] [LGBT+ retelling of Cinderella]

First sentence: Once upon a time, there was a small gray mouse who lived in a pumpkin patch. It was a quiet life--until the night a stranger appeared. 

My thoughts, part one: I did not do my 'due diligence' with this one. The book I thought I was getting and actually wanted--a Cinderella retelling from the point of view of one of her mice. I was up for some novelty--the mouse's point of view. I guess I wasn't expecting every other single element to be changed up in this 'fractured' fairy tale. Some retellings remove the romance and make it pure silliness.

Premise/plot: Fred, the mouse, observes Cinderella's so-called magical night. It's nothing like the traditional tale (as you might imagine.) For one thing, Cinderella can't wait to get away from the whole affair. She did not have a magical evening with the Prince--far from it. She can't wait to go back home and get back to work. So the story does not end with a disappointed prince NOT finding Cinderella...it ends with the marriage of Cinderella and a female farmer--both love gardening and pumpkins.

My thoughts, part two: For better or worse, the book does not address her mistreatment by her stepmother or stepsisters. Not a word--that I could find. In this retelling is Cinderella not being forced into servitude? Is she not being bullied by her stepfamily? If she is being used 'as a servant,' or mistreated/bullied how is this resolved by the end? Why doesn't this come up? I mean Cinderella is usually all about escaping one's situation--miserable life--whether she escapes with or without the prince, she's usually depicted as having a bad home life since her dad died.

For better or worse, the book doesn't show Cinderella ever wanting to go to the ball in the first place. Are we to believe that the fairy godmother just showed up and forced Cinderella against her will to go? Maybe. Probably. If she doesn't want to go, is it because she's self-aware that she has no interest in the Prince OR any guy? But again, we're not told that she doesn't want to go. She doesn't seem cranky until after meeting the Prince and spending time with him. He seems infatuated with her, but it is not mutual. 

Are we to assume that when she meets this lady farmer at the fair it is love at first sight? Probably. Apparently. I wasn't surprised that this classic fairy tale has to have a shift of some type--can't send the message that women need men to rescue them, or, that instant love exists. But apparently it's not bad to have insta love if it's same-sex? I don't know. 

This lesbian retelling of Cinderella--we don't learn about Cinderella's romantic interest until the second to last page--wasn't my cup of tea personally. I just think there is not much characterization or depth.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

240-242. Miscellaneous Parade

240. The Horseback Librarians. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Alexandra Badiu. 2023. [April] 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book] [Fiction based on true story] 

First sentence: The sun is barely poking its head over the horizon. A young woman on a tan horse called Sand, saddlebags packed full of surprises, has already begun her rounds. She is delivering books to readers in the backwoods of Kentucky.

Premise/plot: Anna Mary (rhymes with library) delivers books in the Appalachian mountains during the Great Depression. The book follows her journey over the course of several days. She makes one or two stops per day in this book. Her last stop is a schoolhouse. 

My thoughts: I wanted to love this one. I didn't quite. Readers are reminded a million times--okay probably six times--that Anna Mary rhymes with library. She brings books to individual families; she's more than someone who delivers books: she's a family friend. She chats, visits, reads aloud, shares meals, etc. She also seems to bring books to a schoolhouse. The book keeps things very simple and not all that detailed. It might be serviceable as an introduction, but it won't satisfy those who actually want to know more about this program. Not much context is given in the actual story though there is an author's note.

The illustrations are very bright and colorful.

241. Fox in Winter. Corery R. Tabor. 2020. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Early reader]

First sentence:  Fox does not like winter. In winter, Elephant and the Birds go south. 

Premise/plot: Fox does not like being all alone in the winter. He misses his friends. Can he scheme a way to bring them back? Can he fight winter and win? Maybe. Maybe not. Perhaps he can find something to like about winter....if he looks hard enough.

My thoughts: I LOVED this one so much. It was such a fun read. The illustrations were hilarious (in my opinion). I loved the idea of him fighting winter.

242. Feeding the Ducks with Lily and Milo. Pauline Oud. 2023. [May] 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book/board book]

First sentence: Lily and Milo are going to feed ducks in the park. Before they go outside, they put on their coats. There are two coats: a purple coat with flowers and a little orange coat. Which coat is Lily's? And which one is Milo's?

Premise/plot: Lily and Milo are friends. This is apparently the latest in a long-running series starring these two animals. In this adventure, they will feed the ducks...or will they??? The text is 'interactive.' The text has scripted-in questions for little ones to answer. Of course plenty of other books allow for questions and answers, but this one is more scripted. (I couldn't help hearing the narrative in the voice of the narrator of Peppa Pig).

My thoughts: This is neither a board book or a picture book. The pages aren't a sturdy cardboard (like a board book), but they aren't paper either. They are VERY thick paper. So if your little one has "outgrown" board books yet doesn't seem quite ready for traditional picture books, perhaps this is perfect for you.

Readers do need to pay careful attention to the illustrations. I needed to read this one twice because I was lazy the first time around. Apparently. Parents can either let readers be completely surprised by the twist ending and then come back to hunt for clues, or, they can build in questions of their own the first time through. Do you see what I see? What is Milo doing? Should he be doing that? 

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers