Little Boo review

 

When the antics of their little sibling start to get to Big Boo, they decide to trade for a friend's younger sibling, Little Howl. (goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

At first having a little sibling was a lot of fun.  Little Boo was a sweet and adorable baby and his brother Big Boo were the best of friends.  But things changed when Little Boo began to move around and float.  He seemed to get into everything which annoyed Big Boo making his life unbearable.  One afternoon they go to the library together and Big Boo notices his friend Howl's well behaved little brother.  When Howl offers to trade each others sibling, Big Boo jumps on board immediately! At first it is a great idea but soon Big Boo realizes maybe Little Boo wasn't so bad after all.

 

Here is a cute story to add to the Halloween season shelves about older and younger sibling relationships. It has a humorous take on being careful for what you wish for.  The text is simple but the illustrations add extra with text bubbles throughout. There are many different details to look for on each page that are funny such as; a cinnamon ghost crunch cereal box, witch's hat lamp, reading books the bat in the hat or the very hungry werewolf that will have kids giggling.  The illustrations are in muted Halloween colors and expressively captures the frustration Big Boo is feeling.  In the end, we learn that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

 

Title: Little Boo

Author: Maddie Frost

Pub. date: July 2025, Clarion Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs. 

Little Boo review

The leaves fall, the wind blows, and one little pumpkin seed tries and tries to be scary. But he doesn’t scare anyone . . . not the snowflakes in winter, not the bees in spring, not even the watering can! The wind tells him to be patient—he’ll be scary soon enough. But waiting is hard. Will the little seed ever be really, truly be scary?(goodreads summary)


A tiny little seed is determined to scare everyone around him. But when he says "boo" nobody seems to be scared. The wind tells him it is not quite his time yet and that he needs to have patience. After a long winters sleep, he awakens in the spring ready to get back to scaring but learns that having patience may just be a good thing after all.  

This is a cute and charming story that would be a fun read-aloud for your fall season celebrating.   The text flows nicely and the illustrations are bold and colorful. It also touches briefly through its pictures the life cycle of a seed, to a plant and then into a pumpkin that little ones will easily understand. It would also make a wonderful classroom discussion and project book trying to grow a plant from a pumpkin seed themselves. With a heart-warming ending, the little seed will show kids that waiting to grow up can be hard but with a little patience you may just grow into something spectacular. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

Title: Little Boo
Author: Stephen Wunderli
Pub. Date: August 2014, Henry Holt and Co.
Genre: picture book
Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Little Witch's To-Do List review

 

 Little Witch is very busy from morning to night—good thing she has a to-do list!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

This is a cute and whimsical story about a little witch who has a very busy day!  Her to-do list is just the thing she needs to help her accomplish all the tasks that need to get done by the end of the day.  Just to name a few on her list; she fluffs her cobweb bed,  practices magic wand skills, trains her stubborn owl and does yoga with her black cat.  The short rhyming text is delightful as a read aloud and the colorful illustrations are in pretty Halloween hues.  In the end, she conjures sweet dream magic and gets a special bedtime moment.  Kids will enjoy this fun take on all things witchy. This would also be a wonderful Halloween bedtime story to help wind down from a busy day!  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

 

Title:  Little Witch's To-Do List

Author: Helen Kemp Zax, illustrated by Kiersten Eve Eagan

Pub. date: July 2025, Harry N. Abrams

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs. 

 

Witch Cat review

 

With illustrations by the award-winning Laura Hughes, this charming, delightfully rhyming story about finding where you belong is perfect for Halloween!(goodreads summary)

 

 

  

Pippin has always wondered if there was more to life than being a witch's cat.  Could he be a pirate's cat?  Maybe he could try being a pet cat?  But when Pippin decides to set off to find answers to his questions, he learns that something is missing and just doesn't feel quite right. 

 

Get ready for Halloween with this fun and delightful story about a cat looking for something different to do with his life other than being a witch's cat.  It is a sweet and simple story about finding where you belong.  The rhyming text flows nicely and the bold illustrations makes this a great read aloud. Kids will have fun seeing the various adventures Pippin goes on while trying to determine which life suits him best.  There is plenty of humor to make the little ones giggle as well.  Nothing seems right for Pippin until he sees something that reminds him of home. It is then that he realizes where he truly is meant to be.  This is the perfect story for the Halloween season and will be a favorite for all.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

 

Title:  Witch's Cat

Author: Lucy Rowland, illustrated by Laura Hughes

Pub. date:  July 2025, Bloomsbury

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.