Board book: Silly Lullaby

Silly Lullaby (Board book) Sandra Boynton. 2019. 16 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Your pajamas are on. There’s a duck on your head. I think that this means you are ready for bed.

Premise/plot: Calling all zoodles and noodles, it’s bedtime! This is a reprint of a book originally published in 1997. If you’re not familiar with Sandra Boynton’s work, this would be a great one to start with!

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I did. It isn’t unusual for bedtime stories to feature lullabies. This one features a very silly lullaby full of silly words and mix-ups. Mix-ups like owls mooing.

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: I Love You, Elephant

Board book: I Love You, Elephant ( A Changing Faces Book) Carles Ballesteros. 2019. Abrams. 16 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I love you, Elephant! I love your long trunk! I wish I had a trunk like yours.

Premise/plot: Monkey loves, loves, loves his friends. This board book—featuring changing faces—celebrates friendship and affection.

My thoughts: I have enjoyed many books in the changing faces series. I think my two favorites are Meet Happy Bear and Don’t Wake the Tiger. I wouldn’t list this one as being among my favorite and best. I would still recommend it because even though the story isn’t quite as magical, the novelty of the changing faces is still delightful. 

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Board book: Farmblock

Farmblock (Board book) Christopher Franceschelli. Illustrated by Peskimo. 2019. Harry N. Abrams. 92 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Cock-a-doodle-doo! Good morning, ducks! Good morning, farm!

Premise/plot: Does your little one love farm animals? Board books set on the farm featuring farm animals are abundant. Some have a story. Some don’t. Some focus more on concepts: colors, numbers, seasons, etc. The story is very minimal in this one. Through the pages, seasons change. But it doesn’t start off as being an obvious seasons book. It is like the book switches tracks halfway through.

My thoughts: I have read other books In Christopher Franceschelli’s block book series. I typically love them. Sitting down with a new one is usually a joy. I do like this one. I just don’t love it. It is important to keep in mind that I am not the target audience. I think little ones will still enjoy the chunky size, the easy to turn pages, the flips and flaps. 

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Time Dogs: Balto and the Race Against Time

Time Dogs: Balto and the Race Against Time. Helen Moss. Illustrated by Misa Saburi. 2019. 144 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: I was snoozing on the porch when it all started.

Premise/plot: Five dogs (Baxter, Trevor, Newton, Maia, and Twitch) find themselves traveling back in time when they enter a van that is really an invention—a time machine. This one offers several surprises: the senior dogs find themselves to be young puppies again; they find themselves in a once in a lifetime opportunity for adventure. They arrive in Alaska in 1925. An epidemic is in progress and a much needed serum needs to be transported cross country. Can these pups join a sled team and help save the day?!

My thoughts: If you suspend your disbelief, this one offers a fun escape. I may be an adult, but I appreciate time travel stories for all ages. I love the idea of hooking young readers on this sub genre early on! That being said, there isn’t quite enough development to entertain adults.

The dogs steal the show no doubt. There are humans but think of them more as being like the humans on Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. They have no control or say over what the dogs do. But they are not as helpless or hapless as the humans on Paw Patrol.

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

I Am So Clever

I Am So Clever. Mario Ramos. 2019. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: One gloriously sunny morning, the wolf came upon Little Red Riding Hood: “Hello, my dear! How fine you look in that delightful outfit.”

Premise/plot: the wolf never doubts his cleverness in this fairytale remix. This one does offer a twist or two. When the wolf arrives, Grandma is not home. But he does find her nightgown and dons it. Will his disguise fool anyone?! Maybe. Maybe not. But the wolf ends up regretting his decision...

My thoughts: I wanted to love it. I didn’t. I think I picked this one up because of the cover. I loved the expression on his face. The illustrations of the wolf were great. (The people not so much.) The text was translated into English from the French. I liked it well enough. But it didn’t wow me.

Text: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Total: 7/10

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers