11. I Am Stuck

I Am Stuck. Julia Mills. 2023. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: I am stuck. I can't seem to get unstuck. Stuck? Try wiggling your feet.

Premise/plot: Turtle, our protagonist, is stuck. In this picture book, many, many animals come by and see Turtle in his stuck-ness. Each offers advice on how to get unstuck. Advice that tends to be specific to their species, and not particularly generally useful advice to help him. But one animal is different. And that difference makes all the difference in the world...

My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I love Turtle and Possum. I really love the direction this one took. The illustrations were SO cute and adorable. The story isn't necessarily cute and adorable. Though it could be seen that way, I suppose. I think this one could "hit" readers differently.  For some it might be cute. For others it might be funny. For others it may be all too relatable.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

10. Mine!

Mine! A Story of Not Sharing. Klara Persson. Translated by Nichola Smalley. Illustrated by Charlotte Ramel. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: "Nico's coming to play today," says Mom. "He can't play with the squirrel," Sally says. "It's mine." "Let's put the squirrel in the wardrobe," says Mom. "You can play with it later, when Nico's gone home." 

Premise/plot: And so it begins....Sally begins tossing anything and everything into the wardrobe so that her play date, Nico, cannot play with it. The situation really gets out of hand...she even puts in HER toilet. Will Sally ever learn to share?

My thoughts: This picture book was originally published in Sweden. I want to say two things. First, I enjoy the humorous story line. I do. I think it's silly and over-the-top. I think it's relatable, to a certain degree. I think there's lessons to be learned, if you so desire. Second, I really do not like at all in any way the illustrations. They are just not for me. So I am conflicted on if I like this one...or not. I know I don't love it. 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

9. Kitty Feral and the Case of the Marshmellow Monkey

Kitty Feral and the Case of the Marshmallow Monkey. Eddie Muller and Jessica Schmidt. Illustrated by Forrest Burdett. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It's not easy being the only cat detective in this town. Ever since I bungled my biggest case, trouble hounds me. 

Premise/plot: Kitty Feral is missing--literally and figuratively--her friend and companion Mitch the Mutt with whom she solves cases. But she's solo on this one. She will be trying to track down what happened to Cora's marshmallow monkey. Can she follow the clues and solve the case? 

My thoughts: I LOVED the atmosphere of this one. The narrative is fun, fun, super-fun. The illustrations are AWESOME. I think adults will probably pick up on things young readers don't. But that isn't all bad, in my opinion. It just means the narrative is layered. I do think it holds up to multiple readings. I caught things the second time around that I didn't the first time. It is very noir. Chances are most young readers will have little to no familiarity with this genre. 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

8. Hornbeam All In

Hornbeam All In. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2023. [December] 48 pages. [Source: Library] [early chapter books; animal fantasy]

First sentence: One morning Hornbeam was working on a moose puzzle when his neighbor Eureka called.

Premise/plot: Cynthia Rylant's newest early reader stars a moose--Hornbeam--and his friends. It has three stories: "Eureka and the Picnic," "Sleeping at Cuddy's House," "At the Pool with Adorabelle." 

In "Eureka and the Picnic," Hornbeam says yes to an invitation from his goose friend, Eureka. Does he say yes for all the right reasons? Maybe. Maybe not. He asks WILL THERE BE POTATO SALAD. What he doesn't know--Eureka isn't exactly forthcoming--is that it is a family reunion picnic. There are hundreds of geese for Hornbeam to meet. All seen as "competition" for that potato salad. Will Hornbeam ever get a taste of it?

In "Sleeping at Cuddy's House," Hornbeam takes refuge at his friend Cuddy's house when his furnace goes out. The conflict? Hornbeam SNORES dreadfully. Will Cuddy ever get to sleep?

In "At the Pool with Adorabelle," Hornbeam is persuaded--albeit reluctantly--to take swimming lessons from his friend. Will this moose learn to swim?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one very much. It is true that I tend to absolutely love Cynthia Rylant. She is a favorite of mine. I adore her books--for the most part. Am I attached to Hornbeam and company as much as I am her older books? Not yet. But there is potential. I hope that there are several books published in this series so that readers of all ages get a chance to get attached. When publishers only give us two books--or three books in a series, it's hard for it to build into a great series with beloved characters.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

7. Flat Cat

Flat Cat. Tara Lazar. Illustrated by Pete Oswald. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: Flat Cat was born flat. He wasn't squashed by an out-of-control ice cream truck. He wasn't smushed in a waffle iron by a sleepy short-order cook. He was just flat. Flat as a welcome mat, flat as splashed splat. And wouldn't you know it, Flat Cat liked it just like that.

Premise/plot: Flat Cat loves being flat. This is the story of how Flat Cat became un-flat and rather FAT. Can Flat Cat learn to see some positives at least from being fat and fluffy? Or is the Flat Cat lifestyle the best way to do life?

My thoughts: This was an odd book. Obviously. That almost goes without saying. Cats aren't really all that flat--naturally. The book is silly enough and it could prove appealing. It wasn't quite my cup of tea. 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers