Mandeep’s Cloudy Days by Kuljinder Kaur Brar & Samrath Kaur (ARC Review)

September 27, 2024

Spending time with her dad makes Mandeep’s days shine. They have cha parties, perform Bhangra shows, and best of all, they write jokes together in her favorite unicorn journal. But when Dad starts a job as a truck driver, he starts being away from home most of the week. Without Dad, storm clouds start taking over Mandeep’s sunny days, casting a shadow on all the things she used to love doing. Can anything help Mandeep feel better?

The dynamic author-illustrator team behind the National Council Teachers of English Notable Children’s Book winner My Name Is Saajin Singh brings a new poignant story about father-daughter relationships, how we cope with being separated from our loved ones, and how to find glimpses of light in our days even when clouds threaten to settle in… Read More Mandeep’s Cloudy Days by Kuljinder Kaur Brar & Samrath Kaur (ARC Review)

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

Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp (Review)

September 26, 2024

Two sisters, one stubbornly cheerful (Beatrice) and one relentlessly grumpy (Magnolia), live in a drafty old house with a family of helpful spiders. When Beatrice is gifted magic yarn from a giant forest spider obsessed with sustainability named Bog Myrtle, she and the spiders set to work knitting up a perfectly warm sweater.

But greedy Magnolia sees only the opportunity for profit, and quickly converts the old house into a magic sweater factory. The exhausted spiders are driven to strike, and Bog Myrtle is not pleased . . .

Bog Myrtle is a witty modern folktale that touches on themes of capitalism, environmentalism, labor rights, and being a nice person… Read More Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp (Review)

— book review, children's —

What Can a Mess Make? by Bee Johnson (Review)

September 25, 2024

Kitchen clatter.
Milk and juice.
Syrup splatter.
Chocolate mousse.
Bowl of berries―
Red and blue.
A mess can make a meal for two.

From a cozy breakfast together to crafts, fort-building, kitchen spills, and bedtime rituals, these sisters make tons of messes.

Imaginative, playful, forgiving, delicious messes.

And their messes make a day full of possibilities… Read More What Can a Mess Make? by Bee Johnson (Review)

— book review, children's —

Jelly-Boy by Nicole Godwin & Christopher Nielsen (Review)

August 18, 2024

What happens when a jellyfish falls in love with a plastic bag she mistakes for a jelly-boy?

Jelly-Boy is different. He is big and strong. And not as wobbly as the other Jelly-Boys. By the time Jelly-Girl discovers the dangerous truth about her new friend, it may already be too late.

This is an inventive approach to tackling a conservation issue that is plaguing our world: too much plastic in the ocean. Told in a kid-friendly and humorous way, this is a story with the potential to encourage dialogue around an important issue… Read More Jelly-Boy by Nicole Godwin & Christopher Nielsen (Review)

— book review, children's —

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)