Maxine Gets a Job review

 

The exceptionally adorable global sensation Maxine the Fluffy Corgi teaches your littlest reader the importance of figuring out what they love to do and doing it with their whole hearts!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

If you are familiar with the famous fluffy Instagram dog Maxine, you will appreciate this cute and funny book.  She knows that many talented dogs have jobs and she wants one too.  After trying to be a lifeguard, a chicken guard dog and a truffle dog like her friends, nothing seemed to fit her.  After thinking hard about what she loves best, Maxine finally realizes what her perfect job could be.  

This is a cute book with fun illustrations that will have kids giggling.  When Maxine tries her best to be like her friends, she doesn't give up when she realizes that their jobs are not for her.  Bright bold colors and easy text help make this a good read aloud.  Not everyone is made for the same things but if you try you will find what fits you.  It offers a good message to not give up and just be yourself.  To find out more about the real Maxine, her Instagram account is listed at the end of the book.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title: Maxine Gets a Job

Author: Alexandra Garyn, Bryan Reisberg

Pub. date: May 2024, Random House

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs

 

Piper Chen Sings review

 

An empowering story about a girl who turns her performance jitters into confidence when faced with singing a solo at her school concert.(goodreads summary) 

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Piper loves to sing!  She sings to the birds, frogs in the nearby pond and her stuffed animals who make a wonderful audience.  She excitedly jumps at the chance when her music teacher asks her to sing a solo for the Spring concert.  But after thinking about performing alone, she finds the butterflies she feels inside are taking over and giving her second thoughts.

 

This is a wonderful story to share with kids who may feel just like Piper during any situation giving them the butterflies in the stomach feeling.  When she shares her worries with her grandmother, she lovingly explains to Piper her own experiences with the butterflies and how they meant something exciting was to come.  She tells her to embrace the feeling and welcome them as a part of her during the moment instead of shying away.  Her music teacher was also encouraging and not pushy, letting Piper be the one to decide if she wanted to do a solo or sing with her class.  This book is gentle and heartwarming letting kids know that having these big feelings are normal and how to understand and channel them so they are not consumed by them.  The lovely illustrations are calming and it has a sweet ending. I was also a kid who had butterflies a lot growing up and didn't know how to conquer the feeling.  I would have loved a book like this to help me through those awful feelings I experienced many times.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title: Piper Chen Sings

Author: Phillipa Soo, illustrated by Maris Pasquale Doran

Pub. date: April 2024, Random House

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs.

 

Orris and Timble-The Beginning review

From beloved storyteller Kate DiCamillo comes the first book in a warm and funny early-reader trilogy about a misanthropic rat and a naive owl—and the beginning of a beautiful friendship. (goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

Orris the Rat lives by himself in a very comfortable nest he has made inside a hole in a barn. He keeps his treasures around him making it feel warm and safe.  But one evening,  he hears a call for help from a young barn owl whose foot is caught in a trap.   Orris knows that rats and owls are natural enemies and fears the worst if he helps free him.  How will Orris decide what is the right thing to do?

 

This is the first book of a new trilogy for early chapter book readers.  It is a simple and wonderful story about courage, trust and an unlikely friendship.  Orris questions what is the right thing to do while knowing the consequences of releasing the young owl.  He faces his fears to make the "good and noble choice" hoping he will not meet an unfortunate end in doing so.  The young and naive Timble does make a promise and offers a nice gesture of thank you in return.  The two form a beautiful friendship through storytelling and I look forward to the next books coming out.  The story is gentle and sweet but what adds to this are the beautiful illustrations. The innocence of Timble is captured by his inquisitive wide eyes showing his naive nature instead of a predatory one. The pages are so detailed that when you look hard enough you will feel an actual nighttime barn setting.  This a heartwarming story of friendship, leaving much anticipation for more from these two very unlikely characters.  It is the perfect series to start off the summer reading and I think this is a "just right book" book for ages 5-7.~

 

Title: Orris and Timble - The Beginning

Author: Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Carmen Mok

Pub. date: April 2024, Candlewick Press

Genre: early chapter book

Hardcover, 80 pgs.

Moo Hoo review

 

Grab your tissues and meet Milton, a bawling bull who learns to embrace his tears and all his big feelings(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Milton is a happy Bull and he has a wonderful life.  He is so full of emotion though that it makes him cry all the time.  He cries when he is happy, sad, sometimes nervous and even when music makes his heart swell. He cries at just about everything which also makes it difficult for him to fit in. One day he decides it is time to toughen up and hold in his feelings.  But when he tries this he does not like who he becomes.  Then he tries crying it all out but that doesn't seem to work either.  One day he meets a new friend, Wanda the Sheep, who knows exactly how he feels!  

 

This is a cute story letting kids know that it is okay to have big feelings and just be yourself.  There are others too who share those same big emotions and there is nothing wrong with how you show it.  The bold and colorful illustrations are expressive adding to this heart warming book.  This is also perfect for helping kids understand and show empathy for another person who express their emotions just like Milton does.  I think this is a "just right book for ages 3-7.~

 

Title:  Moo Hoo

Author: Audrey Perrott, illustrated by Ross Burach

Pub. date:  April 2024, Scholastic Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs. 

The Secret Elephant review

 

Discover the unbreakable bond between a baby elephant and her keeper in this heartfelt narrative set against the backdrop of World War II.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

This is a beautiful story that is based on actual true events about a young zookeeper, from the Belfast Zoo during World War II, named Denise Weston Austin.  She forms a special bond with Sheila, a baby elephant, comforting her from the scary sights and sounds of the bombings around them.  But as the war intensifies nightly,  Denise vows not to leave Sheila alone and each night sneaks her out of the zoo taking her to her own home.  It was not easy keeping an elephant a secret but with perseverance Denise manages to do so for a while.  The story is told from Sheila's perspective and shows a bit of humor while adjusting to Denise's "enclosure".  The end pages have newspaper articles retelling the story of  Denise also known as the Elephant Angel.  A beautiful name fitting for her as she protects the baby elephant from a very challenging time in history.  This is a heart-warming story of kindness, love, courage and hope.  I enjoyed learning about their story and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-7.~

 

Title: The Secret Elephant

Author: Ellan Rankin

Pub. date: March 2023, Wren & Rook

Genre: picture book, historical

Hardcover, 33 pgs.

Go and Get with Rex review

 

Jack, Jill, and Rex are excited to play a game of Go and Get!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

This story is so much fun, has humor and will get readers thinking outside of the box.  The object of the game is to go and get something that starts with a certain letter.  For example, the letter was F and Jack brings back a frog and Jill brought back a fish.  Rex the dog ends up bringing back a duck?  Our narrator reminds him that duck does not begin with the letter F.  But Rex thinks it does because duck is his friend and friend starts with an F.  The game keeps going and each time Rex comes up with a creative answer for each letter given.  The text and illustrations are both larger making it great for reading aloud to the younger ones.   The characters are sweet and cheerful showing how fun this game can be.  It would be a wonderful story to read and put together your own Go and Get game. It helps teach alphabet letters, recognition and have fun in the meantime.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-6.~

 

Title: Go and Get with Rex

Author:  David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Pub. date: May 2024, Candlewick Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 48 pgs.

Stephen Hawking - You and the Universe review

We are all time travelers journeying together into the future. But let us work together to make that future a place we want to visit.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

I have always been fascinated with Stephen Hawking and his philosophies.  I think of nonstop questions and seeking answers.  This book was adapted from his 2020 Earth Day message and is his first picture book for kids.  It shares a simplistic but meaningful approach to questions other than about our vast universe and outer space.  It asks readers how can we take care of each other, our planet and can we make the future a place we want to be?   Very deep indeed but he suggests that the answers can come from inside each one of us. The text is short and simple but the artwork of the illustrations is beautiful and calming, showing diverse children working together for a cause. Stephen Hawking reminds us that we are "One planet, one big family" and it is up to everyone of us to help create a better future for the earth and all of human kind.  The back matter offers some of his questions and answers about black holes, stars and aliens which are interesting and something to ponder.  This wonderful book keeps his spirit alive. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 7-9.~

 

Title: Stephen Hawking You and the Universe

Author: Stephen and Lucy Hawking, illustrated by Xin Li

Pub. date: March 2024, Random House

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40n pgs.

Bunny with a Big Heart review

 

In this funny follow-up to the classic Beginner Book It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny, P.J. Funnybunny learns a lesson in kindness(goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.J. Funnybunny was the kind of bunny who left his toys laying around, didn't return things back to his friends, shows up late for activities and leaves his dirty dishes behind.  He isn't a very considerate bunny but after spraining his ankle during baseball, he gets an eye opening experience on kindness. 

A cute beginning reader about being responsible for yourself and through a valuable lesson learning the importance of being thoughtful.  Being busy doesn't give you a reason to be thoughtless and I like books that have subtle messages that gets readers thinking. The illustrations are large, colorful and the characters are sweet with kindness. When P.J.'s family and friends take care of him while recovering, he decides it might be time to step up and be more like them. It is nice to see that he was inspired by others and decides to change his ways. This book is part of the I Can Read It series for kids to help them learn to read by themselves.  There are three other P.J. Bunny books in this series and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 6-8.~

 

Title: Bunny with a Big Heart

Author: Marilyn Sadler

Pub. date: April 2024, Random House

Genre: beginning reader

Hardcover,  48 pgs.

 

 

Poetry Comics review

 

Combining poetry and comics in a whole new way, this fun and imaginative book is perfect for poetry lovers and reluctant readers alike.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The front cover was the first thing that I loved about this book.  The tree in seasonal themes and the vibrant colors offers a great introduction to what I will find inside.  The book combines poems and comics in a wonderfully creative way that will inspire kids to read and may even be sparked to write poetry of their own similar to this.  It is divided into the four seasons with poems that convey human feeling and emotions about real life things that are very relatable.  Adding the comic panels gives it a unique element that will visually engage the reader to the words. The poems and illustrations are short and simple but very impactful. They express thoughts, feelings and things that you find in our everyday lives such as; friends, self-confidence, anxiety, fear, growing up and even has advice on how to write a poem.   

 

My favorite was called Inner Life.  It read -  "There are secret dreams that live inside each person. Can you see them? They swim just beneath the surface."   It shows a boy laying on a pier reaching into a pond with lily pads on top and underneath there are orange fish swimming. It made me stop and think about those words and the illustration. There are so many pages like this for me that were touching and thought provoking.  This book would work great for a poetry unit for older grades.  I think kids will connect to many of the writings and may even be inspired to create their own poetry comic. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-12.~

 

Title: Poetry Comics

Author: Grant Snider

Pub. date: March 2024, Chronicle Books

Genre: poetry

Hardcover, 96 pgs.

Earth Day Celebrations!

Today is Earth Day and I have a few books from past reviews that I felt are worth mentioning for the celebrations!

 

 

 

This is a great book for Earth Day that is not only educational but fun! Children will explore different ecosystems that are so important to our planet.  Each page is filled with a maze to follow from one end to another with their finger.  Along the maze route, they will need to find different animals that make its home in that habitat.  Some are easy and a few are a bit more challenging. There is an answer key at the back with information that teaches about each ecosystem make up and the creatures that live there. It is a fun book with bright and bold mazes.  A "just right book" for ages 5-7.~

 

 

It is never to early to begin teaching children the importance of taking care of our planet and this book is a great start to getting the little ones thinking about what they can do to help our environment.  It offers suggestions that can be done in a simplistic way such as turning off the light when you leave the room or making sure you throw away your trash and not leave it on the ground.  It also opens up a great discussion opportunity about recycling or even my favorite thing to do such as upcycle things for other purposes.  The pages are large, vivid and bold in color while the layout includes a flap so that when you lift it you find an answer to what kids can do which also makes it fun for learning.  By the end of this book kids will think of even more ways to help keep our world beautiful not only for ourselves but for future generations.  My favorite page is the front cover which has a stamp marked that this book was made from 100% recycled material! I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~  

 

 

This book has over 52 hands-on activities with some fun and engaging seasonal ideas that will get the family out into the garden.  Not only is getting outdoors healthy for our kids but garden discovery stimulates the senses and brain.  In Spring, you can start by planting seeds and plants in a pot or recycled old handbag. Maybe you would like to make a beast habitat out of pallets and bricks for observing critters or bugs.  Summer arrives with butterflies, potato print art, outdoor games on the grass and nature hikes. In Autumn,  you can make pies with your fall harvest, plant bulbs for spring or just enjoy the beautiful colors. Winter is not left out because we can still make a compost bin or feed our bird friends with homemade feeders.  There are bound to be a few ideas to spark creativity and help find your own sense of place in the garden.  Many things in the book seem geared for the older child but activities could be tailored towards younger ones by just using your imagination to change around or use proper supervision.  I definitely feel it is never to early to get kids outdoors to learn in nature!  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5 and up.~

 

 

 

Partly Cloudy review

 

 What do you see when you look at clouds?(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Two bunnies are looking at the clouds together but each one sees them with very different perspectives.  One bunny views it with his imagination and the other bunny is all about the science behind the cloud.  

 

This is a very informative book about the various types of clouds but it also teaches us that our imagination is an important part of cloud watching too.  It is whimsical and cute how each bunny tries to get their point across to the other.  There is a lot of cloud science in this story and kids will learn many things about them and the water cycle.  The watercolor illustrations are in delicate hues of blues, green and white giving the feeling of fluffy soft clouds. When the stormy clouds come rolling in the colors changed and depicted another feeling of ominous weather.  The back of the story has even more information about cloud forming, more types of clouds and the water cycle.  The bunnies learn that each others point-of-view can be fun when they bring science and imagination together. This is a great book for a science unit with a fun art project for the younger ones.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-7.~

Title: Partly Cloudy

Author: Deborah Freedman

Pub. date: March 2024, Viking Books for Young Readers

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring is for Strawberries review

This illustrated tale follows the budding friendship between two girls who meet at their local farmers market and reminds us that food is the great unifier of all humankind.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

There are many things to look forward to with the arrival of a farmer's market. After reading this book, I cannot wait for the season to begin here next month.  

 

This story is about a friendship between two young girls and the four seasons while they attend the neighborhood farmers market.  They meet up in spring finding themselves bonding over delicious red strawberries, sugar snap peas and leafy greens.  Summers arrival brings sweet juicy fruits, colorful peppers and corn on the cob.  As the autumn season approaches, a bounty of apples and pumpkins are ready for the picking.  The girls say goodbye for the winter but know they will reconnect in the spring when the first strawberry pops again.  There is so much a farmer's market can offer everyone.  The produce is fresh, nutritious and delicious.  An added bonus are the wonderful smells and the various colors making it a feast for our senses.  

 

The rhyming text is short and easy for reading aloud and the illustrations have so many things to look at in beautiful colors of the seasons.  This book is a celebration of those who farm and sharing all their hard work with the community.  In turn, it teaches how the community helps support their local farmers so the markets can continue each year.  I think this is a "just right book for ages 3-7.~ 

Title: Spring is For Strawberries

Author: Katherine Pryor, illustrated by Polina Gortman

Pub. date: March 2023, Schiffer Kids

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.