Children's Book Review Roundup #4 - Chu Trilogy by Neil Gaiman

LazyDayLit's Children's Book Review Roundup features some of the latest picture books that we have bought, borrowed, or received and read to our little one. It is a way to share books with other parents with little ones.

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Library Roundup

Title: Chu's Day

Author: Neil Gaiman

Illustrator: Adam Rex

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's

Publication Date: January 2013

Synopsis:

Chu is a little panda with a big sneeze.
When Chu sneezes, bad things happen. 

In dusty library, diner pepper, circus tent,
Will Chu sneeze today? 

My Thoughts:

Chu is an adorable little panda with a BIG sneeze. Anything could set it off from encountering old-book dust at the library or pepper in the air at the diner. 

I love Adam Rex's illustrations. The animals are fun and pretty life-like and I love all the little details. 

This just seems so different than any other Neil Gaiman books I've ever read, children's and adult alike. It isn't the 'out there' strange that I am used to when it comes to Gaiman. But that's not a bad thing! It just proves how well-rounded Gaiman is as a writer. He can do anything. Everything he writes is fabulous and Chu is no exception. 

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Title:  Chu's First Day of School

Author: Neil Gaiman

Illustrator: Adam Rex
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's

Publication Date: 2014

Synopsis:

It is Chu's first day of school. Chu is nervous.

He hopes the other boys and girls will be nice. Will they like him?

What will happen at school today?

Will Chu do what Chu does best?

My Thoughts: 

Chu is back and it's his first day of school. He isn't sure if he will enjoy it or if anyone will like him so he is nervous. At school, he is shy and hangs back while the other kids introduces themselves and tell everyone what they like to do. By the time they are all done, the teacher has written lots of stuff on the board and erased some to add more. A cloud of dust hangs in the air. When the teacher asks what his name is, he tells her and then does what he does best. 

I loved reading this second book to my daughter. I was able to explain and show her what each animal in the story does, such as the snail living in it's shell and the giraffe being able to reach things that are high up. And of course, she loved when I 'sneezed' along with Chu. 

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Title: Chu's Day at the Beach

Author: Neil Gaiman

Illustrator: Adam Rex

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's

Publication Date: April 7, 2015

Synopsis:

A brand-new adventure for everyone's favorite sneezing panda, from the New York Times best-selling team of Neil Gaiman and Adam Rex. 

Chu and his family are going to the beach! Chu is excited. He will get to play in the sand and wade in the water. But what will happen if Chu sneezes at the beach? And what will happen if he doesn't?

My Thoughts:

It's a beach day for Chu and his family. Chu's father wades in the water while his mom reads a book. Chu is eating icecream when he looks up at the sun and lets out a BIG sneeze! A sneeze so big it parts the sea! Can Chu fix what he has done?

Somehow I like this third book the most. Instead of just blowing away a circus tent or knocking over schoolmates, Chu sneezes the sea in half! He 'breaks' the sea! That is the 'out there' strange that I kind of expected from Gaiman in 'Chu's Day'. And there are merpandas! MERPANDAS! Coolest new creature ever! Also, my husband sneezes every time he looks at the sun and likes to say that he is allergic so kudos for relating to that.