children's book review: Glory the Lioncub and the Dunnos

Glory is an inquisitive lion cub who would like to have his fur patterned like the cheetah, the zebra and the snake as he meets each one. He also wants to know their names but he is amazed to find that each share the same one – ‘Dunno’! When Glory meets a young elephant with the same name, but with two ‘tails’, he is even more intrigued. He quickly discovers that mud baths are not suitable for lions but it is many years before he realises what ‘Dunno’ means. 

Magnus is a young elephant who decides that he would like to be a doctor. As he comes across sick or injured animals, he tries to make them better using methods he has seen other creatures use. The patients pretend to be very grateful and Magnus is happy with himself. Gradually, however, he learns that each animal has their own type of medicine and when a young cow elephant catches his eye, he decides he just wants to be a grown-up elephant. 

Benedict is a dark brown bear from North America who mistakes the humming of telephone wires for bees. Climbing the telegraph pole in search for honey, he is amazed to hear a voice coming over the wires – it’s Polar Bear from the Arctic. Benedict is amazed to learn that other bears are white and he listens eagerly to how polar bears can travel across ice. When he tries to tell his family, they laugh at him and he wonders if he has been dreaming. 

Glory the Lion Cub and the Dunnos brings together three different animal stories that will be enjoyed by children between the age of seven and nine.

~~~My Review~~~~

Creating a book for ages 7-9 is a pretty hard thing to do. It's really easy to make the mistake of taking a story that's better suited as a picture book and trying to make it grow up and be a chapter book. The opposite, accidentally making a book that's beyond the reading level of ages 7-9 but not interesting to anyone else is also easy.

I don't think Glory the Lion Cub quite hit the mark. As far as how it could be better, I would make it younger. Three picture books for a slightly younger audience. As it is, this book just didn't do it for me. 

ebook review: Saved by the bell

The classic TV series gets an update for today’s brand new high-schoolers as the coolest kids at Bayside High start their freshman year!

All your favorite characters – Zack, Slater, Kelly, Lisa, Screech and Jessie (and Mr. Belding, of course!) – are starting freshman year at Bayside High, trading in brick phones and mullets for iPhones and Twitter accounts. Does Lisa’s fashion show get on the air, and will Screech ever leave her alone? Will Jessie get that A+? And, most importantly, who’s Kelly going to go out with – preppy Zack or new star athlete A.C. Slater? It’s alright, ‘cause we’re saved by the bell!

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My Review:

I loved this ebook. It was a bit small on my smartphone, but still readable if you double click the pictures and short enough not to matter too much. Anyone with a tablet or kindle won't have any problems.

The storylines and drawing style are reminiscent of the Archie comics, which is great. And while reading this as a fan of Saved by the bell was enjoyable, the show relies on speed between scenes and audio cues for the humor, so a little was lost there.

Overall, if I saw this in the impulse aisle at Wal-Mart I would probably get it. If I had limited funds and went to the bookstore, I probably would pass on it.

ebook review: Caillou waits for Christmas

It’s finally Christmas Eve, and Caillou just can’t wait for night time. He’s planning to stay up all night to see Santa, but he finds this a lot harder than he thought it would be. And in the morning his stocking is full of gifts!
This book includes an Advent calendar with stickers to help young ones count the days until Christmas.
Glittery edition.

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My Review: 

My usual metrics for children's books are skewed whenever I review them in electronic format. I can't see how durable the cover is or how tear-able the pages are. At my daughter's current age, I think this book is too long for her--it's certainly not the images that lose her attention, as she likes spending time on those pages. As a person who watched Caillou as a kid, I enjoyed the nostalgia, but to my grown up eyes it felt cut off too early. This book is probably best for older toddlers (mine is 1.5) who can sit for longer passages of words.

ebook review: Apocalypse meow meow

Brownie, Apollo, and their ragtag group of strays have raided the grocery store and defeated some very mean mutts--but now they've run out of food. So when the crew discovers a nearby Twonkies factory, and all the Twonkies they could ever eat, they think they've got it made.
The only catch is the cat guarding the factory--and this "cat" is MUCH bigger, and far more sophisticated, than any feline they've ever met. Can the dogs and their friends defeat their foe and claim the Twonkies for themselves?
The Proimos father-son team returns with another irreverent, dog-filled take on the apocalypse, told in a graphic novel paper-over-board format. The instantly accessible artwork and laughs on each page will charm everyone from the most reluctant reader to the coolest of cats (humans and animals alike)!
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My Review:

I got this book as an e-arc through NetGalley, so any formatting opinions are self-redacted.

First, the drawings: they were cute without being too childish, and fit the tone of the story well.

The story: was really adorable and I can see grade school readers loving this series. The ending felt a little cut off though, like this originally was a longer piece that got chopped in half. Although, for the second in a series, you'd never know it. It reads like the first of a series and there's a thing that is introduced but never explored or resolved that felt off.

Buyability: not for me. My daughter's too young yet for me to know if she would like it.

Overall: This is a great book to have in a school library, but the cliffhanger at the end means you'll probably want to get the series.

review: The plans I have for you

The Plans I Have for You combines playful rhyming text written by bestselling children s book author Amy Parker with whimsical illustrations by award-winning artist Vanessa Brantley-Newton to create a book that inspires readers of all ages to dream about their future. God has great plans for each and every one of us, and this book encourages children to think about the talents that make them special and will help them imagine how God may use our unique traits to make the world a better place."

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My Review:

I got to share this marvelous book with my daughter for free, courtesy of the BookLook Bloggers program.

First glance:
This book follows one of the most assuring verses in the bible for people who worry or are ever anxious about their futures:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.:-- Jer. 29:11

This is a book geared towards young children of toddler to grade school age.


My thoughts:
Parker uses bright and simple illustrations and an easy cadence that kept my one year old's attention. She not only enjoyed it, but I loved it too. I'm not sure if it's possible to spoil a picture book, so I'll only say that I really liked the creative interpretation of how god plans for each of us on one of the pages. This is a book I can see reading again and again, for the great message that everything will be okay no matter what you choose to be in life, and for the sheer enjoyment of reading this. Honestly, I would love to read this book 10 times in a row far over reading 'animals on the farm' 10 times in a row.

Review: Dream on!

Imagination and motivation are key to young children’s happiness and health. Thinking about dreams and goals can help children cope with challenges when they arise and view life through a hopeful lens. With this encouraging book, nurture children’s imaginations and help them enjoy taking responsibility for their choices and goals. Back matter includes advice for motivating kids and teaching about goal setting at home, at school, and in childcare.

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My Review:
I received an e-arc, and I'm not sure if the pictures translated correctly. There was a lot of black in the illustrations that gave it a somewhat ominous feel.

Aside from the black spots, the illustrations were enjoyable and the story had a great message. I'm so happy to be reading books lately that feature diverse characters, so our kids can continue to learn different lessons than the racism of the recent past.

The "adult portion " of the book is a valuable resource for parents and teachers, to implement new vocabulary words and encourage positive development.

Most of the activities asked to focus on one dream. This seems like a tall order for a 4-8 year old, but would be interesting to see if done yearly with one child to see how their dreams evolve.

Book Review: Flutterby Field

Last day of Children's week! Aww! No worries, Fiction week is up next!

Flutterby Field is a mystical, beautiful place, filled with flutterbies, that holds a special place in the hearts of a grandfather and granddaughter. Come visit 'Flutterby Field' and share in the bond of two people sharing a very special place.

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My Review:

The first two pages had great cadence, but hiccupped a little on the third. I love that the words and illustrations were on separate pages, so it's easy to position yourself where you can read to a group and see the words with minimal book tilting.

The pictures were beautiful and gave justice to the description of flutterby field. It took a little while, but about halfway through the cadence corrected itself.

I'd probably recommend this book to lovers of Munsch's I'll Love You Forever

Book Review: Arrgh!

Welcome to Day 6 of Children's week!

Join Christopher and Lucy, Leo the Attack-Mouse-for-Hire, Sugar the Monkey, and a throng of talking bats--as they battle pirates on the high seas. When 13-year-old Christopher runs away from an orphanage, he is kidnapped by undercover pirates who force him to pretend he is a relative who cannot speak, as they sign on to a merchant ship they are plotting to plunder. Trapped in silence, Christopher discovers he can talk with a highly skilled mouse who will teach him Five Life Lessons. The Captain's 12-year-old daughter Lucy discovers the truth about Christopher and befriends him. But can they stop the pirates? This thrilling tale piles on the fun, hidden treasure, swashbuckling swordfights, terrifying storms and island paradise adventures that make pirate sagas so enjoyable. What sets Arrgh! apart is its hero's heartwarming wish for family, and how he comes to find the family he will treasure forever.

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My Review:

I got this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

At first I thought this was going to be a graphic novel. Can you blame me, with that cover? But once I got past that fact, I really enjoyed this book and it's loose parallels to the Orphan Annie story. To me, Annie was an important tale of self strength, confidence, and who your real family is--especially when you have none by blood near you. As I thought about it more a lot of stories were out there to do that for me. A little Princess, Matilda...but none I could think of that did the same thing for boys. Aargh! is a very much needed tale of bravery and friendship that was enjoyable to read even at 22 years old.

Review: Big Nate (Welcome to my World)

Welcome to day 5 of Children's week!

Aspiring cartoonist Nate Wright is eleven years old, four-and-a-half feet tall, and the all-time record holder for detentions in school history. He's a self-described genius and sixth-grade Renaissance Man who lives with his dad and older sister and enjoys pestering his family and teachers with his sarcasm.

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My Review:

I got this book through NetGalley for an Honest review

Hi, my name is Kristina and this is my first Big Nate book. (hiiii, Kristina)

I really liked this collection of comics. Back in late elementary/middle school comics were a big percentage of the books I read. This collection certainly took me back there. It was an easy read that was entertaining and helped me unwind after a day of work. 

I can see how some people would find the trope of a male protagonist who rebels against school a bit redundant, but I enjoyed this partly because it reminded me of those comics I read back in the day. Would I have liked it as much if Nate was a girl? I don't know. 

Moment of truth: Would I pick this up in a library and read it? Yes. Would I buy this book in a bookstore? I probably would. If not for myself or a friend, then as a donation to a library.

Review: Five little ducks go to School

Welcome to day 4 of Children's week!

It s time for the five little ducklings to go to school. Four of the little ducklings shout, YIPPEE! HOORAY! OH BOY! THAT S COOL! The fifth little duckling sobs, BOO-HOO! I won t go to school! I m going to miss you! But when Mama reminds them, Even though we ll be apart, we ll still be in each other s heart, the little ducklings go forth and soon discover School is great! 

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My Review:

Disclaimer: I received this book for free through NetGalley. Positive reviews are never required--only honest ones.

Five Little Ducks won on a lot of levels for me. For reference, my daughter is 15 months old. 

1) The colors were bright, and we just happen to be working on counting to 5. :)
2) The cadence of the words flowed easily and naturally
3) When I finished and said "last page!" My daughter signed the word "more" and I had to read it three times in a row.
4) The book is ideal for not only kindergardeners, but little ones going to preschool or daycare (or mine, who's at the age that she cries any time we go out of her line of sight)
The only thing that fell a little short with me was the size of the lettering. But I'm sure I'd end up reading it so often I'd memorize the words.

Book Review: Happy Birthday Davy!

Welcome to day 3 of Children's week!

Davy is counting the days until his birthday. It seems like such a long wait! He is so excited, he can hardly sit still when Father Rabbit tells a story about a lucky little rabbit who had three wishes that all came true. Davy decides that if he had three wishes, he'd wish for someone who would tell him stories whenever he wanted, someone who would teach him new games, and someone who always had plenty of time to spend with him.Davy's birthday finally arrives and with it comes a big surprise present -- too big to be wrapped -- that makes all of Davy's wishes come true and his birthday the happiest one ever.

This new adventure featuring Davy and the Rabbit family shows that love is the best gift of all.

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My Review:

This book was so adorable. The pictures had my one year old engaged, even if it was a little long for her (definitely a book to try again in a year or so) The story had me interested and wanting to give little Davy a hug as he walked around just wanting someone to play with and stories to read. 
This is a great book to be read out loud or by yourself on a classroom or library floor. If this book is going to be shared by many children and enjoyed as a group story time read, I'd definitely get it. But for a single family with an only child? 15 dollars and change is a bit steep. Definitely get the Tuff Book version I linked up to above to only pay half the price.

Series wrap up: Nick and Tesla

This is an excellent middle grade book for young scientists. Nick and Tesla have the same precociousness as Claus and Violet from the Unfortunate Events series, and I especially like the safety warnings not only in the beginning of the book, but in each experiment instruction and the story as well. The story itself was fun and ended on a great cliffhanger. My sister and I definitely would have loved this at the middle grade level, and I fully intend on getting a copy and giving it to my daughter when she's older.

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This second book I read of the series was just as good as the last. Growing up, my sisters and I were fortunate enough to each have our own bookshelf. Mine had many series of books, each taking up maybe half a shelf. I would love to see this series take up space on my daughter's shelf.
Before finding this series, I had begun to worry that educational mysteries for middle grade readers had gone extinct. This series has revived old feelings of learning from books like the time warp trio and the magic tree house, with the added elation that a girl is one of the main characters.
I have to admit, robotics go a little over my head. But that only added to the book as I was able to learn something new, too. 
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The third book in this series starts off with a slight nod to the first two, giving only the most important information and moving on to the story at hand. I like this because we all know how kids are--if they like spies more than robots, they'll read the series out of order. Making each book work well as a standalone is smart.

While the experiments were fun as always, the e-arc I received didn't quite translate the formatting. This isn't an issue though, as I plan to get physical copies.

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In this book, we focus on one big invention rather than a bunch of little ones. Since it all takes place in a day (Nick and Tesla need to find out who is sabotaging an exhibit before the opening ceremony) I got to thinking that this would make a pretty good television series too, for visual learners who work better with video than pictures. 

Nick and Tesla are lovable characters, and I liked what a big part their friends Silas and DeMarco played.

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Science Bob takes a short break from robotics to appeal to young directors and producers in his latest book in the Nick and Tesla series. Things like homemade steady cams and extended arm grabbers are things that are not just valuable to middle grade producers, but would have also been a great help to me in my high school theater days. 
In this book we're still wondering where Nick and Tesla's parents are, and if they're okay. What I love about this series is that the experiments make it educational, but the story keeps you waiting for the next book to come out. I received an e-arc of this book from the publishers, so any formatting issues I know will be fixed in the finished version. Definitely a series I would buy for my daughter as well as my friend's kids
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Book Review: Sleep Time Stories; The Adventures of Pee Wee

 About Edward R. Ritvo
Dr. Edward R. Ritvo, M.D., is a retired Professor of Child Psychiatry at the UCLA Medical School who has written some 100 scientific articles and several books on autism and Asperger’s disorder. The author is board certified in psychiatry and child psychiatry, had a child development practice for many years in Los Angeles where he specialized in six areas – autism, child behavior disorders, childhood schizophrenia, depressive disorder, mental disorders, and developmental disabilities. He has written several scientific books but Pee Wee is his first venture into children’s literature.

What is believed to be a pioneering “sleep time” genre of children’s literature has been introduced by child psychiatrist Edward R. Ritvo, M.D. Dr. Ritvo, an internationally acclaimed autism researcher, shared a collection of sleep time stories shared with three generations in his family by publishing Sleep Time Stories: The Adventures of Pee Wee. The importance of this innovative children’s literature rests in the fact that sleep time stories promote bonding between the child and parent/caretaker which is a key foundation to developing a healthy child with strong self-esteem. “Sleepy time stories are powerful in that they convey to the infant that they are loved and are special to their parents who care enough for them that they devote this special experience each evening,” explains Dr. Ritvo.






My review:
Pee Wee the Ant is adorable. While my brand new human puppy is a bit young for sleep training, The stories are fun to read and call for the child to interact with you as you read. I look forward to when my daughter is old enough to answer me when I prompt her (Where do you think Pee Wee is going? Can you see his house?) and to follow along with the gestures the stories suggest (If you squint your eyes really small, you can see his house! Go ahead and try.)

The Adventures of Pee Wee is in that happy place between "This story is way too depressing to be a good bedtime story" (I love you forever, I'm looking at you.) and "That story was so exciting that now no one wants to sleep and mommy has to read her math textbook to get anyone to calm down" (Dr. Seuss is for the daytime.)

Star rating: 4 of 5, but with high expectations once Dear Daughter can interact with it.