Board book: How To Be A Cat

How To Be A Cat. Nikki McClure. 2013/2019. Abrams. 30 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Stretch.

Premise/plot: The little kitten that stars in How To Be A Cat has a LOT to learn, but she has a good teacher. Each spread of this board book--originally a picture book--features just ONE word. But somehow, someway there still manages to be a story conveyed.

My thoughts: I love, love, love cats. The black and white illustrations are striking, engaging, and expressive. The illustrations are at the heart of this simple story.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Fast Forward to The Future (Time Jumpers #3)

Time Jumpers #3 Fast-Forward to the Future. Wendy Mass. Illustrated by Oriol Vidal. 2019. Scholastic. 96 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Chase bolts upright in bed. What is making so much noise? Why are his bedroom lights flashing in the middle of the night?

Premise/plot: Chase and Ava have a THIRD adventure in Wendy Mass' newest early chapter book. This brother and sister team have traveled twice into the past. This will be their first jump to the FUTURE. The object the two must return to its proper time is a GLOWING CUBE. What will these two make of the future they see? Will they perhaps even catch a glimpse of themselves in the future? Will they get any more clues as to WHO is behind the suitcase and WHY Randall keeps following them?

My thoughts: I have enjoyed the previous books in the series. This may just be my favorite. I didn't think that visiting the future would be as fun as visiting the past--but it was. I loved seeing some of the advancements--especially in terms of clothes shopping. I definitely would recommend this series to young readers.

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Little Rabbit

The Little Rabbit. Nicola Killen. 2019. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Ollie and her toy bunny had been waiting for the rain to stop for a long, long time.

Premise/plot: Ollie has quite an adventure with her bunny after the rain stops. But is her bunny a toy or a real bunny?

My thoughts: This little picture book is a lovely celebration of imagination. I enjoyed the text, I did. But I really loved, loved, loved the illustrations. Together the story they tell is fun.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Jolly Jingle Book

The Jolly Jingle Book. Leroy F. Jackson. Illustrated by Clare McKinley. 1951/1961. Rand McNally. 30 pages. [Source: Bought]

Premise/plot: The Jolly Jingle Book is a collection of rhyming poems for young children. The poems are often silly and focus on imaginative play.

Poems included:
"Away Down South"
"Ginger"
"The Fuzzies"
"Milky Moo"
"The Banyan Tree"
"Going to the Fair"
"Whimpy Crimpy, Curl"
"Granny Faddle"
"Clatter Street"
"Wicked Willie"
"Isn't it Grand?"
"Chatter Chin"
"The House Beside the Mill"
"The Wooly Owl"
"Sugar"
"Miss Topsy Turvy"
"Going Home"
"I Like the Moon"

My thoughts: I chose this one for the illustrations. I love, love, love vintage illustrations. The poems range from fun to extremely silly and ridiculous. These aren't poems that take themselves too seriously. I can appreciate that.

Ginger

Ginger is a scalawag,
Ginger is a pup;
He got into the cellarway
And ate the sausage up.
He got into the cubbyhole
And carried off a shoe;
There's hardly any naughty trick
That Ginger doesn't do. 

The Wooly Owl

The wooly owl is very wise;
He says that sugar's good for flies,
That pumpkin seeds and Spanish moss
Will never make good applesauce.

Sugar

I want sugar on my oatmeal
And sugar on my bread,
I'll turn into a sugar stick
Some day, my grandma said.
Sugar by the spoonful
And sugar by the bowl--
I wouldn't trade a lump of sugar
for a car of coal. 

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Arrr, Mustache Baby!

Arrr, Mustache Baby! Bridget Heos. Illustrated by Joy Ang. 2019. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

 First sentence: Baby Billy was born with a mustache. Baby Javier was born with a beard. Usually they were fine young gentlemen.

Premise/plot: It is always a joy to see Baby Billy playing well with others. But. Sometimes he doesn't. In this newest book in the series, Billy and his friend, Javier, become PIRATES. Will they end up in the dungeon?

My thoughts: I love, love, love this series. I think this book may just be my new favorite. The book opens with these friends at THE POOL. The text reads, "One day Javier and Billy set sail across the seven seas. Ahoy!" It continues, "As Captain and first mate, they rescued shipwrecked passengers..." the accompanying illustration reveals it's a Barbie doll. From the start, readers can catch on this one is going to be a HOOT.

I loved the story. I loved the text. I loved the illustrations. It just works.

My review of Mustache Baby and Mustache Baby Meets His Match.

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



© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers