Bear’s Lost Glasses by Leo Timmers (Review)

August 18, 2024

Bear can’t find his glasses. He must have left them at Giraffe’s house.

On the way over, Bear sees all kinds of animals he didn’t notice last time: an elephant, a crocodile, a flamingo, a deer. And who’s this long spotty snake lying on Giraffe’s deckchair?

The patient Giraffe finds Bear’s glasses―right where glasses always get lost, perched on his head. Then Bear takes Giraffe to meet these wondrous animals that he found on the way.

Leo Timmers’ details are full of expression and humor―the angle of Giraffe’s neck and lift of his eyebrows, hiding his skepticism as he helps his friend, the dear, artless bear.

Through an ingenious telling of this classic comical situation, Leo Timmers shows us how to enjoy the world through different eyes… Read More Bear’s Lost Glasses by Leo Timmers (Review)

— book review, children's —

At the End of the Day by Lisl H. Detlefsen & Lynnor Bontigao (Review)

August 18, 2024

A pitch-perfect story about a busy, exhausted, and loving family dealing with one obstacle after another in the run-up to bedtime, in the spirit of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

At the end of a long day, sometimes it feels as if time will keep stretching endlessly. There are errands to run, homework to do, and toys to be put away. Sometimes it’s windy, and stormy, or downright boring. But . . . sometimes, with a little patience, the end of the day can be warm and cozy, surprising and exciting, and just right—filled with reasons to be grateful for the day you’ve had, and to look forward to tomorrow, too… Read More At the End of the Day by Lisl H. Detlefsen & Lynnor Bontigao (Review)

— book review, children's —

Dr. Color Monster and the Emotions Toolkit by Anna Llenas (Review)

June 26, 2024

Today, Nuna doesn’t feel quite right. So, she pays a visit to the Color an emotions doctor who helps diagnose big, challenging feelings. After he recognizes and gives a name to what we feel, this kind and gentle Monster (with the help of his emotions toolkit!) leads Nuna and readers down a path of mindfulness, self-healing, and mental well-being.

This vibrant companion to the international bestseller The Color Monster includes two giant foldout pages featuring more than 30 effective, accessible, and practical tools for soothing strong emotions—strategies for readers of all ages to calm and center hearts and minds. Drawing from her background in art therapy and featuring her endearing, standout artwork, Anna Llenas brings the bestselling Color Monster series to a whole new level with a story both reassuring and transformative. Backmatter for caregivers about understanding emotional regulation is included.… Read More Dr. Color Monster and the Emotions Toolkit by Anna Llenas (Review)

— book review, children's —

5 Tremendously Silly Munsch Stories by Robert Munsch & Michael Martchenko (Review)

April 3, 2024

With over 80 million books sold across the globe, Robert Munsch is the authority on funny kids books!

Along with Michael Martchecko’s instantly recognizable illustrations, Munsch’s zany spins on everyday situations are the perfect gift for any kid who loves to laugh.

5 Tremendously Silly Munsch Stories includes:
The Paper Bag Princess
Angela’s Airplane
Thomas’ Snowsuit
Stephanie’s Ponytail
Show and Tell… Read More 5 Tremendously Silly Munsch Stories by Robert Munsch & Michael Martchenko (Review)

— ARC review, baby, book review, children's —

My First Book of House Pets by duopress labs and Åsa Gilland (ARC Review)

January 8, 2024

My First Book of House Pets is a beautiful introduction to the world of furry, fluffy, and all-around adorable pets for babies and toddlers. Like other titles in the earth-friendly series Terra Babies at Home, this book helps tots develop a connection with the natural world and is made with FSC materials and nontoxic inks.

Simple and quirky text pairs with charming art by Åsa Gilland in this book where animal lovers will learn about house pets in a friendly and easy way while being introduced to basic concepts of animal care and the environment.

“Cats purr to communicate. They purr when they are happy,” we read. “Dogs love to play, and you can teach them tricks.” Readers will learn to make a fish face, that hamsters are lively friends, and that lizards have cool names. And that’s not all: The book shows readers how to pick a pet from a local shelter and the importance of keeping a pet healthy and giving it tons of love!… Read More My First Book of House Pets by duopress labs and Åsa Gilland (ARC Review)

— baby, book review, children's —

Peekaboo Jungle: Baby’s First Crinkle Peek-A-Book by Surya Sajnani (Review)

October 18, 2023

Open out the soft pages of this beautiful, sensory-rich organic cloth book to explore a world deep in the jungle, and play peekaboo with Monkey, Jaguar, and Toucan.

Movable, crinkly, cloth jungle creatures are found inside, perfect entertainment for little hands and great at stimulating babies’ senses. Move Monkey’s tail, Jaguar’s body, and Toucan’s beak to see what is hiding behind each!

Presented in a sweet gift box, the pages are made with extra padding for an ultra-soft feel , making them ideal for the pram or play mat— and they’re machine washable!

Little hands will love to explore Wee Gallery Cloth Books . This successful partnership between Wee Gallery and Happy Yak presents beautiful illustrations, bold lines, whimsical animals, and repeating patterns; all designed to stimulate visual development in young infants , making this new quality cloth book series an ideal first gift… Read More Peekaboo Jungle: Baby’s First Crinkle Peek-A-Book by Surya Sajnani (Review)

— ARC review, book review, children's —

How This Book Got Red by Margaret Chiu Greanias and Melissa Iwai (ARC Review)

October 18, 2023

In this clever picture book tale about the power of representation, a red panda decides to write her own story when she realizes that none of the other panda books include pandas that look like her.

When Red discovers a new book about pandas, she can’t wait to read it! Except it’s about only one kind of panda, and red pandas are completely left out. Red never gets to read stories about pandas like herself! So she decides to take matters into her own paws and write her own book.

But when Red looks around, it seems like the only kind of pandas the world cares about are the black and white kind. Will anyone want to read about red pandas? It’s up to Red to finish her story and share it with the world… Read More How This Book Got Red by Margaret Chiu Greanias and Melissa Iwai (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, children's —

Sam Francisco, King of the Disco by Sarah Tagholm and Binny Talib (ARC Review)

October 17, 2023

A toe-tapping adventure celebrating optimism in the face of adversity about a community of cool cats who just want to have fun.

Superstar DJ Sam Francisco’s party is keeping his neighbor Buzzkill Bill awake. Bill tries everything to shut it down—he sends his dogs, then pest control, the fire department, and the police! When Bill finally succeeds in pulling the plug, things look bleak, but luckily it’s the people (and the cats) who make a party, not the fancy equipment.

Written in verse, this exuberant celebration of dance, music, and self-expression begs to be read aloud over and over. Young readers and adults alike will delight in the humor, charm, and energy of Sarah Tagholm and Binny Talib’s fantastic felines led by Sam, the David Bowie of cats. Featuring a silver-foiled cover for full disco effect, readers are introduced to many musical genres, as each of Sam Francisco’s adversaries are gradually won over by the beat… Read More Sam Francisco, King of the Disco by Sarah Tagholm and Binny Talib (ARC Review)

— book review, children's —

I Will Read To You by Gideon Sterer and Charles Santoso (Review)

September 14, 2023

A gentle blend of spooky and sweet, I Will Read to You is a unique rhyming bedtime tale about empathy, storytime…and monsters.

Once upon a time, there was a boy who loved stories—scary ones about skeletons and witches, giants and ghosts, vampires, dragons, mummies and goblins. But he wondered…do monsters have anyone to read to them ? Armed with only a book and a flashlight (and with his bemused mother in tow), he travels through the night, calling together every monster he can think of to make sure they get the bedtime story they need.

Delightfully spooky and surprisingly tender, I Will Read to You celebrates monsters, stories, and the way a good book can bring us together… Read More I Will Read To You by Gideon Sterer and Charles Santoso (Review)

— book review, children's, comic/graphic novel, middle grade —

The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharp (Review)

April 19, 2023

Bellwether Riggwelter is, once again, out of blackberries. This time, rather than tiptoe through a forest full of predators, he comes up with a new plan. He will keep himself safe by blending in—he will sew a Wolf Suit! The disguise works perfectly . . . sort of. Bellwether realizes he can’t enjoy the forest in a bulky suit, and he may not be the only creature in the forest who feels that way. Perhaps not everyone is as wolfish as they appear.… Read More The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharp (Review)