I thought this was a touching story. It was sort of stark and somber with an upbeat ending.
For some reason Mac take Mrs. Claus out of the picture and I thought this was a touching story. It was sort of stark and somber with an upbeat ending.
For some reason Mac take Mrs. Claus out of the picture and Santa is all alone in the north pole. He delivers toys and then sleeps. He wakes and begins making toys for next year. He seems lonely, but he's got his trusty elves around him.
The elves feel bad he works so hard, so they want to give Santa Christmas as well. So they decorate and have a Christmas day just for Santa. This is where Mrs. Claus would come in handy.
I love that there is a polar bear that plays the part of Santa Claus. Perfect.
Sydney Smith did the artwork. It's in watercolor and gouache. The colors were all so dark. It really made a somber and lonely feel to the book. Inside his log cabin was dark and the village was dark. The mood created is heavy and dark. It brought the book down a star for me. It was very thick. Santa blended into the Christmas tree with his green flannel.
Still, it's a good story and I think kids will enjoy this one....more
This is just my kind of story. I love this one. I love Moose and putting one on the Sleigh is brilliant.
Elmore the Moose has a dream, he dreams of beiThis is just my kind of story. I love this one. I love Moose and putting one on the Sleigh is brilliant.
Elmore the Moose has a dream, he dreams of being one of Santa's Reindeer. Prancer can make Christmas this year, so Santa needs a new reindeer. So be it. Elmore writes and he goes back and forth to the North Pole. At first people were surprised he was a Moose and then sadly, they found out he couldn't fly.
You know something, Elmore could bake. That's right, Elmore the baking moose. There you go.
The artwork does look digital. The artwork has that Christmas magic about it. I find this to be a new classic. The night is such a rich purple.
Spoiler ahead:
OMG! My favorite part of this is Abner the flying Walrus. That is amazing. Yes, we need a flying Walrus. How brilliant. That trilled me to no end. I would have loved to see a moose, but the walrus did the trick....more
A story about a bear and a red balloon. It reminds me a little of Cast Away with Wilson.
A bear finds a red balloon drift into his life one day. He chaA story about a bear and a red balloon. It reminds me a little of Cast Away with Wilson.
A bear finds a red balloon drift into his life one day. He chases it and then befriends it. Of course with those paws, he pops it. Lucky for the bear, the moon is there with some sage advice. This was a nice little story. Cute bear.
The artwork is mixed media. It looks like some colored pencils in places and other things. It seems more abstract in style. Some pages have no backgrounds, just white, some pages do have backgrounds. At the beginning, this red balloon floats in and the text talks about a blue sky and the illustration is whited out, not blue at all. That bothered me. The art is fine, but I wasn't a fan of it.
Kids who love animals might enjoy this story of a cute bear....more
A beautiful Ode to Summer in it's many green ways. This book is able to capture some essence of summer. It's beautiful. He also uses the music of summA beautiful Ode to Summer in it's many green ways. This book is able to capture some essence of summer. It's beautiful. He also uses the music of summer and reminds us of all the sounds of summer. The color of summer is green. We may have some blue too, but green is the color.
The verse is simple and clear. The artwork is nice. Acrylic paints were used for the artwork.
I think kids can enjoy this book, especially in winter when they are reminded that summer will come again. ...more
Jason Chin knows how to make learning fun. I learned so much in this book. It is packed with facts about space. I used to love space as a kid, thanks Jason Chin knows how to make learning fun. I learned so much in this book. It is packed with facts about space. I used to love space as a kid, thanks to Star Wars. I read lots of books on it back then. This book has new things I never knew they figure out. We have learned so much about space in 40 years. Wow.
Amazing illustrations. He takes big ideas like galaxy clusters and makes them easy to understand. The artwork is beautiful. He uses watercolor, gauche and digital art.
He takes children and slow builds the world from them. An Ostrich is twice as tall as a 10 year old. Then a Giraffe, then trees, the buildings, then mountains, next atmosphere and then out into space.
I leaned the names of the Dwarf planets. Ceres is in the Astroid Belt outside Mars. Then Makemake, Haumea and Eris are out there with Pluto.
He shows Local groups of galaxies. Then the next page is Galaxy clusters. Very cool. I've heard of them, but having them in perspective helps with understanding. It blows my mind, really. Just so much out there.
He then shows the cosmic web. I didn't know about this one. It looks like strings of cells. It look like you are looking at something under an electron microscope. Amazing. I had no idea how it looked. The scope nearly shuts down my brain.
Last we see the edge of the known universe. It's 13 Billion light years is all we can see from Earth. There is a lot more, but we can't see it. Outstanding. I had no idea. It look like a huge cell.
I also learned of the Oort Orbit which is a belt of astroid and comets around our solar system that looks like the edge of a cell wall around our solar system. So beautiful.
What a great book. Kinds interested in space can learn so much from this book. I highly recommend it. It will make you feel so small....more
I love this story. It's about gardening. Strega Nona shows Big Anthony how she plants her garden. She makes careful notes and the secret is planting uI love this story. It's about gardening. Strega Nona shows Big Anthony how she plants her garden. She makes careful notes and the secret is planting under a full man and blowing three kisses at the moon.
She rotates her garden and plants each vegetable in a different place each year. She keeps her seeds in dark envelopes until she is ready to use them. I learned all these tricks when I used to have my garden. It was only a little plot in a side yard, but we got so much produce out of that little plot. People could not believe it. It was a wonderful experience. I love it. Those were the days. I miss my garden. I never planted by moonlight, but I learned of that after I left my garden. It's something I totally would have done. It was a messy sort of garden, but I understood it and made sense of it. I love it.
Big Anthony decided to plant his own garden. He puts things just anywhere, but at night when he sees Strega Nona giving three kisses to the moon, he gives six.
The big funny in the story is that each morning there is a ton of veggies outside Nona's door and she doesn't know where they are coming from. The town below had a poor harvest so she is giving it all to them. Big Anthony is getting way more stuff than anyone else. I guess those three kisses really worked.
This is Tomie's signature potato face drawings that he is known for. The veggies are beauties. ...more
This celebrates the joys of childhood friendships. We follow a group of boys and see the strong bonds they have with each other and all the fun thingsThis celebrates the joys of childhood friendships. We follow a group of boys and see the strong bonds they have with each other and all the fun things they do. I love that they have a kid in the wheelchair and help him keep up.
The words are short and sweet and the pictures tell you everything you need to know. These are those good summer days of being carefree and playful. I nice book. All kids should have this experience instead of being in front of the TV. I love that these kids will read together too. Bonus!
The artwork is digital. I like that each kid has their own hairstyle. Nice. The artwork is playful and so carefree. Oh, those long days playing outside, what great days....more
Snails - Yummy. But, this book isn't about cooking or even eating them. This book is about one crossing the road to get to some cabbage.
It's actually Snails - Yummy. But, this book isn't about cooking or even eating them. This book is about one crossing the road to get to some cabbage.
It's actually a twist on 'the little engine that could'. The snail thinks he can cross this road. Nothing will stop him. Still, in his quest, he shows kindness to ants who have a tea party with him in his shell in the middle of the road while it's raining.
A crow is trying to eat this snail, and the snail gets turned around and heads off the road the way he came. He is still determined. Why cross a road when friends can bring the cabbage to you.
The artwork is done use ink and watercolors. I wasn't too impressed with the artwork. It was fine, but it also felt a little lazy. The snail had a great attitude.
I love this simple story and I can so relate to it.
It's about a boy outside while it's snowing trying to catch a flake on his tongue. It's not as easI love this simple story and I can so relate to it.
It's about a boy outside while it's snowing trying to catch a flake on his tongue. It's not as easy as it should be.
This brings back great memories. On snow days, I would stay outside for hours and hours. Adults would try and get me to come in as they thought I would be too cold. I would eat snow and I did catch it on my tongue a time or two, but it was easier to scoop it up and eat it.
I love that this kid loves snow and is in it. It's just the best. Still, when we get a snow day and work is cancelled, I'll bundle up and go outside for hours and play with the niece and nephew or whatever.
So simple and this story is so great.
The artwork is digital and simple like a children's art. The snow is the real main character here....more
A beautiful book. I love the words in this book. Samara is quite the poet. Her words are sweet as honey and they catch the light as well. This is an oA beautiful book. I love the words in this book. Samara is quite the poet. Her words are sweet as honey and they catch the light as well. This is an ode and celebration of that Brown Earth tone. She has a poem about honey and, sand, hair and skin.
The artwork is good. The artist doesn't use background colors. The background is a beige sort of color with the people in the middle doing something. The color brown is lovely in this book. It is highlighted and shown off in this story.
There is a richness in these words and it all feels like a celebration of the goodness around us. ...more
I like these nature quartet books. They start out in curiosity and add some fantasy and imagination and then it's been a great day. It's a lovely formI like these nature quartet books. They start out in curiosity and add some fantasy and imagination and then it's been a great day. It's a lovely formula.
Sam wakes up on a dreary gray day and he doesn't want to do anything. Luckily, his grandpa has a plan. They go to all these place like a library and a hardwood story and spend their morning building a sled. By the time they're done, the ground is covered in snow.
Out they go into the wilds. They find a lost dog and life is wonderful.
The artwork is ink and watercolor. Sam Usher does a great job with getting the atmosphere of the day just right. I love how the granddad knows how to build curiosity. It draws the kid right in. Also, the cover has bumps on it with the snow, so it's textured, a nice touch.
A lovely rhyming book about one crazy family and their gingerbread house eating obsession. This was a fun and silly time.
The artwork is very bright anA lovely rhyming book about one crazy family and their gingerbread house eating obsession. This was a fun and silly time.
The artwork is very bright and colorful while the people look absolutely nuts. It's digital artwork. It's very slick and looks processed.
The story is told is a repeating rhyme pattern that works to the rhythm of the house that Jack built.
The family is getting ready for Christmas on Christmas Eve night. While they are doing their chore, they are each eating some piece of the gingerbread house. Santa comes and no treats are left. Opps
What a great telling of Mr. Rogers. This is mostly about the show. There is some background about Fred and mostly its about his work. We find out how What a great telling of Mr. Rogers. This is mostly about the show. There is some background about Fred and mostly its about his work. We find out how and why he got into television. We see a little behind the scenes and all the people that help on the show.
I watched Mr. Rogers growing up. I knew what time it came on and I remember being so excited to watch the show. I watch the clock waiting for it to come on. I loved the imagination time and all the places he would get out. Who doesn't like that trolley.
Anyway, the book does a great job bringing all that stuff back from the show. He was a great man who brought a sense of curiosity to the world and a whole lot of goodness for kids to enjoy.
The artwork looks like watercolor and it is using pen and ink with it. The artwork is fine. Not my favorite.
I didn't realize he had so many human regulars. When I was watching in the 70s, it seemed like there was the mailman and the music shop owner. I don't really remember other adults around....more
A cute holiday book by Dolly Parton. I just love her. I have since I was a little kid. Here the dogs are a band and they are on the road Christmas. BiA cute holiday book by Dolly Parton. I just love her. I have since I was a little kid. Here the dogs are a band and they are on the road Christmas. Billy the kid wants to be home for Christmas, but things aren't looking good. They just got a gig to sing at Rockefeller Center in NYC on Christmas day.
There are some criminally good puns in this book and they reference Dolly Parton songs. That part is so good.
The artwork is cute. It's colorful and all about the power of dog cuteness. Kids will love it.
Dog lovers and Parton fans will love this. Dolly makes an appearance as well. She saves the day at the end. Doesn't she always....more
What a great idea to take this Christmas Scene from 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' and turn it into a comfy children's book. It works really What a great idea to take this Christmas Scene from 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' and turn it into a comfy children's book. It works really well. All the lines are pulled from the story.
The artwork is lovely. It has that cozy feeling of being inside with all the light while it's cold outside. It has a fresh take on it.
I think kids will enjoy having this little moment to relive. I love it. ...more
I love what a 'why' creature looks like. They are very cool. So, this book is about being curious in life. It shows a kid who is bored for the day andI love what a 'why' creature looks like. They are very cool. So, this book is about being curious in life. It shows a kid who is bored for the day and nothing seems to be interesting, not toys, friends, outside, nothing.
Then, the curious 'why' is introduce. All the sudden the kid is asking how what when and why and getting interested in things, going to the library. Now, life is no longer boring.
The artwork is created in Procreate, digital artwork. IT's very lovely, colorful and imaginative. The artwork has energy and pops off the page. I love the colors and what the book is about. The artwork can be surreal at times, which I love.
People who lose their curiosity, I don't really understand them. I get life gets busy, but shouldn't things make you wonder. Anyway. I wish my niece could get curious. She has already lost her curious. All she cares about is youtube and looking popular. Poor thing. I talk about all sorts of things with her and she just rolls her eyes at me.
Everything in the world comes down to big things and little things and then we are the things in between. This is how Kevin breaks the world down. BigEverything in the world comes down to big things and little things and then we are the things in between. This is how Kevin breaks the world down. Big things are the sea, the sun, the moon. A book claiming to have everything in it is pretty simplistic and seems to miss on that.
This is a general overview. There isn't a story here and it's not non-fiction, so it's confusing as to how to catalog this really. It's just a story for very young kids just reading. This would be a good first book.
A grandmother shows her granddaughter what it is to vote as a community. They walk through their community and pick up people and go vote.
The story isA grandmother shows her granddaughter what it is to vote as a community. They walk through their community and pick up people and go vote.
The story is told in nice verse. The author saves the voting part till the end. We wonder what the community even is till the end and it's in the title.
The feeling of community is nice in the book.
The artwork looks like watercolor. Some nice city artwork.
This book just rattles and hums. This is the story of Josephine Baker. She was a professional entertainer during the roaring 20s. She grew up in St. LThis book just rattles and hums. This is the story of Josephine Baker. She was a professional entertainer during the roaring 20s. She grew up in St. Louis and traveled around the US once bigger. In New York City, they were making her do black face. After some time, she left for France where she found a lifetime of fame. She was part of the Civil Rights Rallies later on as well.
This book is all about movement and positivity. Josephine was dirt poor growing up. She made funny faces to get by. She pretty much made her own way through life. The story is told in a repetitive scat that is fun. Each repetition has a little twist to what is being said. You can almost hear the band behind the words.
The artwork is amazing. The colors hum and vibrate. You can’t keep them down, they have to move.
I can't decide if the simplicity here is lazy or brilliant. There are three colors used, yellow, white, black, I guess you can count grey as well. TheI can't decide if the simplicity here is lazy or brilliant. There are three colors used, yellow, white, black, I guess you can count grey as well. The little book is divided into 6 chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the sun, Chapter 2 the Sunflower and Chapter 3 the lion. They all use the same shape for the gold round part.
There isn't much here. This is a book for beginning readers. I suppose they can focus on the shapes and the colors and the reading is simple. For a new reader this might be a great thing. I guess this is on the brilliant side of things.
I wasn't crazy about the Chapter breaks. The whole page, both sides are taken up with this chapter break. It seems sort of cheating the buyer out of art and story. These pages made up the total page count. I guess if it were a board book, it would be the same. Anyway. It bugged me.
See if your beginning reader enjoys this. They just might....more