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

224-227. Some Early Chapter Books

224. Fox Has a Problem. Corey R. Tabor. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader] 

First sentence: Fox has a problem. It is not a new problem. But Fox has an idea. A big idea. 

Premise/plot: Fox's problem changes throughout this new early reader by Corey R. Tabor. His problem? His kite--one of many kites--is stuck in a tree. A problem sure enough, but is his solution a true solution? Maybe. Maybe not. Is Fox smart enough to find a true solution? Maybe. Maybe not. But with a little help from his friends, all of his problems might find solutions...

My thoughts: I laughed out loud. I'm not lying. I laughed so hard when reading this one. It was such a DELIGHT. There are more in the series that I am excited to read now. I loved, loved, loved it.

225. Mindy Kim and the Summer Musical. Lyla Lee. Illustrated by Dung Ho. 2023. [July] 96 pages. [Source: Library] [early chapter book; series book]

First sentence: My name is Mindy Kim. It's finally summer, and my best friend, Sally, and I have really fun plans.

I've read the first book and the ninth book--none of the books in between. I normally don't read books out of sequence, but, I was intrigued with the 'summer musical' story. I love, love, love musicals. And this one is Cinderella--one of my favorites.

Mindy Kim, our heroine, is trying out for the summer musical (it is a children's production). The book shows her life at home and 'on set.' Plenty going on behind the scenes as well, and not just about the musical itself. 

I may have enjoyed this one even more if I was familiar with all of the characters--family, friends, etc. But I enjoyed plenty. I would recommend this series.

226. Bad Luck Lola (Hola, Lola) Keka Novales. Illustrated by Gloria Felix. 2022. 64 pages. [Source: Library] [early chapter book]

First sentence: The delicious smell of bacon and waffles woke me up in the morning. I knew what that meant--Sunday!

Premise/plot: Lola breaks a mirror her grandmother gave her. She's convinced for almost the entire book that bad luck is coming and is already starting to ruin everything.

MY thoughts: I wanted to like this one because of the Texas setting. But her superstitious woes irritated me so much. I wish I'd started with any other book in the series but this one.

227. Dance of the Feather (Hola, Lola) Keka Novales. Illustrated by Gloria Felix. 2022. 64 pages. [Source: Library] [early chapter book]

First sentence: Happy birthday to you.

Premise/plot: Lola is given tickets to the ballet for her birthday (by her grandparents). Lola then has a sudden desire to dance, dance, dance. But when she doesn't immediately--a few lessons in--get a big role in Swan Lake (like why is she in the production at all???) she finds a way to be cheerful as a chicken.

My thoughts: This book irritated me too. I don't understand how someone who has only taken a few lessons, at best, and mid-course at that. (Just randomly showing up to ballet class and joining in) has been given any part no matter how small. There's a LOT of time between dance class number one and recital number one. And this isn't even a recital, but a production of a ballet--Swan Lake. I do have a tendency to overthink things.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

221-223. Picture Book Parade

221. Bear With Me. Kerascoët (Sebastien Cosset and Marie Pommepuy). 2023. [June] 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [near wordless picture book]

First sentence: Bear with me!

Premise/plot: Oh how I love thee, let me count the ways. This is a near wordless picture book starring a growing girl (she's an infant on the first spread and starting school towards the second half) and her beloved bear. Throughout the book, you see her growing up. This sequence is beautifully illustrated and super relatable. The conflict in this one--well, one of two conflicts, perhaps--is WHAT will she do at school without bear? (And perhaps just perhaps what will Bear do all day without her while she's at school.) 

My thoughts: I don't always love wordless books, but this near-wordless picture book charmed me from page one. SO much story is expressed on each spread. SO much emotion. So many relatable experiences--from both sides. For example, the sequence where the dad has had ENOUGH and is putting his foot down, so to speak, and washing Bear in the washing machine. Those two pages express so much just through illustrations alone. But I think my favorite pages deal with the girl's attempt to take the Bear with her. Literally, "Bear with me." 

I loved this one so much. It was super cute and adorable. It was very relatable.

222. The Together Tree. Aisha Saeed. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [school, bullying]

First sentence: Rumi joined Ms. Garza's class on the first warm day of spring. 

Premise/plot: Rumi, the new student, is bullied by his classmates. He spends his time during recess drawing underneath a tree. Soon he's not alone. It doesn't happen over night, nor quickly enough for Rumi, perhaps, but unlikely friends can become good friends.

My thoughts: This is a picture book that addresses bullying AND reaction to bullying. The focus isn't so much on the person bullying and the person being bullied as it is the bystanders who witness bullying situations. 

This is a message-driven book. Unfortunately, bullying continues to exist in this world despite all the calls for kindness and compassion. Still every book that promotes kindness and compassion is welcome.

I liked this one. The illustrator has long been one of my favorites. 

223.  Tap! Tap! Tap! Dance! Dance! Dance! Hervé Tullet. 2023. [May] 64 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book] [interactive]

First sentence: Ready? Place your hand here. Close your eyes. Concentrate. Wiggle your fingers gently to warm them up. Heads up, your turn now....

Premise/plot: This is an "interactive" book that may [or may not] appeal to young children. It invites them to follow the instructions of the book, be directed by the illustrations. It is written in second person, present tense. 

My thoughts: I may not be the right audience for this one. I wanted to be. I just wasn't. I do think it has potential to appeal to young ones. (As do most books). I think if there was more tapping and less swooshing or sweeping, it might have been more enjoyable to me.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

217-220. Board Book Parade

217. Big Kids No Everything. Wednesday Kirwan. 2023. [April] 36 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book]

First sentence: Big kids NO everything. There are small nos, and there are big nos. Loud nos. And quiet nos. 

Premise/plot: This book celebrates toddlerhood?! Full of puns surrounding the word "no" (no/know). The point it is celebrating is that saying no is a big step to growing up. The scenes capture all the relatable everyday moments of life. The NO of not wanting to wear [particular] pants. The NO of a hangry tantrum. The NO of not wanting to take a bath. My favorite NO however is the "timid no" of a girl surrounded by squirrels after her snack. 

My thoughts: The text is super-simple. It is the illustrations that carry the story--in my opinion. It is the illustrations that provide context, context, and more context. The text cannot stand alone, again this is just my opinion. Is no something to be celebrated? Maybe. Maybe not. Is it a reality for many/most? Probably. Definitely. Whether it is celebrated by parents or not, I think there are recognizable and relatable moments captured in the art. 

Super-sensitive readers [aka monitors] should know there is cartoon nudity (nothing is seen) on one of the spreads. A little toddler [girl, presumably] is running AWAY from a bathtub.

 I really enjoyed this one!

218. Baby Animals First Sounds. Alexandra Claire. 2023. [February] 20 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book]

First sentence: Chirp. Hummingbirds ask for lunch with a "Chirp, Chirp" sound. "Please feed us soon, 'til our tummies grow round." BAA. Two lambs in the field are sister and brother. They say "Baa, baa" when they talk to each other."

Premise/plot: This board book features some familiar animals (pigs, cows, sheep) alongside more unique animals (hummingbirds, mice, snakes). It isn't exclusively farm animals either. 

My thoughts: This one is written in rhyme. It features some photographs of animals. It's basic. 

219. My First Book of Fruit. Fred Wolter. 2023 [March] 20 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book]

First sentence: Apple. There are more than 7,500 different kinds of apples in the world. Banana. A small bunch of bananas is called a hand of bananas! A single banana is called a finger. 

Premise/plot: Concept book about fruit that is filled with I-didn't-know-that-facts. For example, did you know that wood from the pear tree is often used to make musical instruments??????

My thoughts: I didn't know I needed this book. But every spread had a fun, often new-to-me fact. (Though not all facts were new to me.) I liked the simple text and the super bold illustrations. It's also a fun shape. 

220. My First Book of Veggies. Fred Wolter. 2023. [March] 20 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book]

First sentence: Carrot. Carrots can be orange, black, purple, red, white, or yellow. Purple broccoli. Broccoli is a member of the cabbage family, just like cauliflower and Brussels sprouts! 

Premise/plot: Concept book about vegetables that is filled with facts. Did you know that the number of rows on a corn cob is always an even number?!?!?! 

My thoughts: I was familiar with most of these facts about vegetables. But I also fell in love with the illustrations of the vegetables. I never thought vegetables could be cute and adorable. Loved that they included mushrooms. (Even though as the book points out, mushrooms are not technically vegetables.)

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers