Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Expedition Backyard by Rosemary Mosco & Binglin Hu (Children's Graphic Novel Review)

 We received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Expedition Backyard
by Rosemary Mosco
Illustrated by Binglin Hu
Published by Random House Graphic
on June 21, 2022
Genre: Children's, Graphic Novels
Length: 128 pages
Ages: 4 - 8

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Join two best friends--a mole and a vole--on their everyday expeditions to find beautiful plants, meet new animals, and learn more about the world around them in this nonfiction graphic novel. 

Each day, Mole and Vole venture out into the world--never forgetting their nature journal!--to see what they can find in their own backyard. From pigeons and jumping spiders to swamp milkweed and maple trees, these two explorers get to know every part of their local environment. But after an accidental move from the country to the city, Mole and Vole worry that everything will be different. As they explore, they discover plants to look at and animals to meet in their new home as well. 

The story of these two best friends brings to life a nonfiction adventure of finding wonder in nature everywhere--no matter where you live. This book concludes with fun activities for kids to do at home. 


Our  Thoughts:

Two best friends, Mole and Vole, live their best lives going on adventures and expeditions every day. No matter what happens, whether it's a scary predator or even a complete change of scenery, these two friends keep a positive outlook and face the big world head-on.  From the backyard to the city, Mole and Vole make every day a fun and educational adventure! 

Expedition Backyard is a children's nonfiction graphic novel that is perfect for nature and animal lovers! 


This is adorable!
We loved Vole's enthusiasm for adventure and Mole's tendency to nature journal all of their fun expeditions. 
The illustrations are super cute and there is some scientific labeling of flora and fauna thrown in to make it even more educational. 

There's a lot of great content at the end of the book as well, including step-by-step instructions to draw the characters and tips on how to keep a nature journal, join a community garden, learning to compost, and more! 



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Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Beneath the Trees: A Fine Summer by DAV (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a temporary digital copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Beneath the Trees:
A Fine Summer
by Dav
Published by Magnetic Press
on May 31, 2022
Genre: Children's, Picture Books,
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 3 - 8

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
It's summer and the laughter of children echoes under the trees. But for some of the older animals, the frivolous abandon of childhood is far behind them. Old Mr. Owl and Mr. Toad get the crazy idea to relive some of their youth if that's even possible anymore. 

The stories in this four-book series take place in the same forest over the course of four seasons. Each one can be read independently, exploring the complexity and richness of relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. 


Our Thoughts:

The sounds of summer carry through the trees in this anthropomorphic forest community. Kids play and splash all day and two local old-timers, Mr. Owl and Mr. Toad, aren't too pleased with the noise. At least, not until they find a way to enjoy themselves again. 

This picture book is one in a seasonal quartet featuring a woodland community with different characters in each installment that is illustrated in a 'Disney-inspired style' that we have come to love! The woodland characters are super cute (even the grouchy ones) and the attention to detail in the backgrounds has me hoping for more from this author/illustrator.

Some of the previous installments were wordless sequential art from what I remember but 'A Fine Summer' has both dialogue and lots of onomatopoeia on nearly every page. The books in this seasonal quartet do not need to be read in order but all are lots of fun with good humor and subtle life lessons for both young and adult readers! 



More in the 'Beneath the Trees' quartet:


The Autumn of Mister Grumph
Winter Chills



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Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Beneath the Waves by Stephanie Warren Drimmer (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 We received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Beneath the Waves:
Celebrating the Ocean through Pictures, Poems, and Stories
by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Published by National Geographic Kids
on March 16, 2021
Genre: Children's Nonfiction
Length: 192 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Open this charming read-aloud book and you'll find amazing animal profiles, whimsical poetry, stunning photography, plus fascinating information about the wondrous creatures that call the ocean home.

This keepsake treasure is sure to wow readers while also serving as an important reminder to protect this precious and wonderful resource. 


My Thoughts:

Beneath the Waves is a celebration of the ocean not only through photos and facts but with art and style! The gorgeous title text is used throughout as scrolling headers, there is watercolor-esque artwork mixed in, and even the photographs have an artistic texture to them that makes every page a beauty to behold. 

Starting on the shore, we explore the edge of the ocean with its creatures and critters, wade in to explore the colorful reef and its inhabitants, dive into the open ocean, sink into its inky depths, and everything in between. 

This is one of my favorite Nat Geo books so far! I'm so used to these nonfiction books being strictly photography paired with text and in some cases, comics or cartoons, but this is something new and different altogether. Every single page is visually appealing in the best of ways and will keep kids and adults busy for hours.

 Animal and ocean lovers alike will adore this gorgeous book full of fascinating facts. Gift it, put it on the coffee table, or add it to your homeschool or library shelves! Your family will thank you!

Many thanks to the publisher for providing us with a review copy of this fantastic book! 


More NatGeoKids books about the ocean:


Extreme Ocean by Sylvia A. Earle
&
Captain Aquatica's Awesome Ocean by Jessica Cramp


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Thursday, May 13, 2021

Animal Barn: A Cautionary Tale by David Spuler (Novella Review)

 I received an ecopy of this book from the author/publisher via Goodreads Giveaways. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Animal Barn
A Cautionary Tale
Written by David Spuler
Published by RevMax Media
on November 10, 2020
Genre: Anthropomorphic, Environmental
Length: 118 pages

Goodreads | Amazon 

Synopsis:
Trapped in their steaming barn, with food running out, Petunia the lamb and her friend Pickle struggle against the obstreperous Felicity and the dismissive older animals who are oblivious to the needs of the young ones. Only a mother's love can save them. 
An allegorical novella about climate change and global warming, in the spirit of Animal Farm. 


My Thoughts:

A barn full of farm animals worry about their owner as he becomes sick in the cold of winter and stops showing up to feed them.  They're sure someone will rescue them eventually, but it keeps getting colder and they keep getting hungrier.
As more time passes, some of the animals break out of their stalls and come up with ways to preserve their shrinking water and food sources but no matter how much they try, they can't seem to find a way to break out of the barn. 

Animal Barn is the 'Animal Farm' of our time, with unseen forces, aka weather and/or climate, as the main antagonist but still follows the spirit of the Orwellian tale. A barn full of trapped animals is bound to have an interesting, and perhaps rather harrowing, outcome; especially when their very survival is at stake.

I originally read 'Animal Farm' in middle or high school as required reading (which never bothered me) and it stuck with me for years. I've reread it twice since then and can definitely see myself reading it again in the future and was excited to read this novella 'retelling'. 

Animal Barn did not disappoint. It has many similarities to 'Animal Farm' but is a fantastic allegory all on its own, with lovable characters and its own 'hidden message.'

Content warning includes neglect and death of animals and some animalistic violence. I would recommend it to fans of Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies. There are no age recommendations that I can find but I think it is suitable for young readers. 


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Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Cozy by Jan Brett (Children's Picture Book Review)


Cozy
Written & illustrated by
Jan Brett
Published by
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

on October 20, 2020
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32  pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
A group of clever animals find an unusual but warm and furry home during Alaska's long winter in Jan Brett's newest snowy adventure.

My Thoughts:

This is a sweet and heartwarming wintery story about a young, furry musk ox named Cozy who lives in Alaska and is separated from his family in a blizzard and shelters many of the critters he comes across.

This is very reminiscent of other Jan Brett picture books we've read such as 'The Mitten' and 'The Hat,' where many creatures search out warmth in the same small, cramped space, but 'Cozy' has it's own heartwarming creature to save the day instead of a discarded piece of clothing. 

As usual, Jan Brett does a fantastic job of illustrating winter scenes and Arctic creatures. We love her unique style of extraordinarily detailed artwork but also her uncanny way of weaving both words and illustrations into both an audio and visual story.



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Friday, December 18, 2020

The Greatest Gift (Heartwood Hotel #2) by Kallie George (Children's Fiction Book Review)


The Greatest Gift
(Heartwood Hotel #2)
Written by: Kallie George
Illustrated by: Stephanie Graegin
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
on July 3, 2017
Genre: Children's, Fantasy, Animals
Length: 176 pages
Ages: 7 - 10 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Mona the mouse has finally found a place to call home, the cozy Heartwood Hotel, where she works as a maid and sleeps snuggled up in a room with her best friend. Following the festive St. Slumber celebration, most of the guests have settled in to hibernate, and the staff is looking forward to a relaxing winter. But disruptions abound, from a difficult duchess to a mysterious midnight snacker. As the snow stacks higher, Mona will have to gather friends both old and new to keep the peace, finding help in some of the most unexpected places. 

My Thoughts:

Mona the Mouse has settled into her daily routine as a maid at the Heartwood Hotel and winter has come, meaning most of the animals are hibernating, but a demanding duchess appears, food keeps disappearing, and Mona is determined to find the perfect gift for her friends at the Heartwood.

The Greatest Gift is the fantastic and heartwarming sequel to A True Home, in which we were introduced to Mona the Mouse, an orphan that is swept away in a storm and ends up at the Heartwood Hotel, where she is taken on as a maid. There, she finds her place in the busy oak tree hotel and makes a few friends along the way.

In this sequel, Winter has descended upon the Heartwood, and a majority of its patrons are hibernating, but there's always plenty of work for Mona, Tilly the Squirrel, and the others. Mona is determined to make the perfect gift for the Heartwood but with the extra patrons and sneaky night-time snackers, she has her work cut out for her. But when her friends are in danger, Mona steps up and makes big sacrifices to save them and others in need.

This series is a quartet set in each of the four seasons and has plenty of adorable woodland creature characters to fall in love with! We've enjoyed the first two very much and can't wait to continue! 


See our thoughts on 'A True Home'!


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Friday, December 11, 2020

Little Mole's Christmas Gift by Glenys Nellist (Children's Picture Book Review)

Little Mole's Christmas Gift
Written by Glenys Nellist
Illustrated by Sally Garland
Published by Beaming Books
on October 6, 2020
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 3 - 6 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
While Little Mole is bringing home a beautiful mushroom as a Christmas gift for his mother, he encounters woodland friends in need and shares the mushroom with them. 


My Thoughts:

Little Mole picks a big beautiful mushroom as a gift for his mother for Christmas, but he runs into friends that need help and by the time he gets home his gift is not quite what he had hoped it would be.  

Little Mole's Christmas Gift is about a sweet little mole with a huge heart and a helping hand that can't leave a friend in need, no matter what. 

This is a wonderful book for nurturing empathy and kindness and has adorable illustrations that makes this a wonderful story for any time of year but is especially perfect for Christmas! 



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Friday, December 4, 2020

Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake (Children's Chapter Book Review)

 

Skunk and Badger
(Skunk and Badger #1)
Written by Amy Timberlake
Illustrations by Jon Klassen
Published by Algonquin Young Readers
on September 15, 2020
Genre: Children's, Chapter Books
Length: 126 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Wallace and Gromit meets Winnie-the-Pooh in a fresh take on a classic odd-couple friendship, from Newbery Honor author Amy Timberlake with full-color and black-and-white illustrations throughout by Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen. 


My Thoughts:

Badger lives a quiet and lonely life in his Aunt Lula's brownstone in North Twist and fills his days with 'Very Important Rock Work' until the day that Skunk shows up with permission from Aunt Lula to live there. Badger doesn't want a roommate, especially not a skunk that might spray or mess with his things or invite one hundred chickens to tea, but Badger soon learns a lesson in humility, sacrifice, and friendship.

This is a humorous but heartwarming story about two rather different creatures forced into rooming together, with some funny and not-so-funny consequences. Badger is rather fond of his solitude and isn't at all thrilled by the new houseguest and his rather exuberant cooking or his need for more space. But Badger soon realizes that his way isn't the only way and a true friendship is born.

With the fantastic message of unity mixed with Jon Klassen's lovely illustrations, this story has a truly classic feel to it and I wouldn't mind coming back to it in the future! I hear this is the start of a series as well and am looking forward to reading more about these two!


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Thursday, August 6, 2020

A True Home (Heartwood Hotel #1) by Kallie George & Stephanie Graigin (Children's Chapter Book Review)


A True Home
(Heartwood Hotel #1)
Written by Kallie George
Illustrated by Stephanie Graigin
Published by Little, Brown Books
on July 3, 2017
Genre: Children's, Chapter Books, Animals
Length: 176 pages
Ages: 7 - 10 years





Literary Awards:
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Nominee (2018)
Shining Willow Award Nominee (2018)

Synopsis:
When Mona the Mouse stumbles across the wondrous world of the Heartwood Hotel in the middle of a storm, she desperately hopes they'll let her stay. As it turns out, Mona is precisely the maid they need at the grandest hotel in Fernwood Forest, where animals come from far and wide for safety, luxury, and comfort. But the Heartwood Hotel is not all acorn souffle and soft moss-lined beds. Danger lurks, and as it approaches, Mona finds that this hotel is more than a warm place to spend the night. It might also be a home. 

This delightfully enticing start of a new chapter book series tells a tale of friendship, courage, and community, with exquisite black and white illustrations throughout. 


Our Thoughts:
This is a super cute chapter book about a young mouse with no home or family that finds a true home!

Mona the Mouse gets swept away by a storm and finds herself at a grand oak called Heartwood Hotel. There's a party going on when she arrives and the owner generously allows her to stay the night in exchange for tidying up after the party guests. Everyone is kind and welcoming except for Tilly the Squirrel, but Mona is extra helpful and finds her place after all! 

I read this to my daughter and we both enjoyed it very much. The anthropomorphic animal characters were mostly kind and generous with real problems and worries and it was easy to root for and worry for Mona and the others. Of course, there were a few bleak moments, such as a big bear and even wolves, but Mona uses her big heart and keen mind to help out anywhere and everywhere she can!

This is the first in a trilogy so we're hoping to get our hands on them soon! 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

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Monday, July 13, 2020

NatGeoKids: Yoga Animals: Playful Poses for Calming Your Wild Ones by Paige Towler (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book)

We received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Yoga Animals:
Playful Poses for Calming Your Wild Ones
by Paige Towler
Forward by Tara Stiles
Published by National Geographic Kids
on May 19, 2020
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Animals
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Adorable animal photos and lyrical text guide kids step-by-step through easy animal inspired yoga poses.

Roar like a lion! Arch like a kitten! Stretch like a cobra!
Did you know that many yoga poses were inspired by animals?
Let these creatures inspire your young ones to get moving, practicing mindfulness, or calm down after a long day.

The foreword by Tara Stiles, founder of Strala Yoga, reminds us that we're never too young to start enjoying the health benefits of yoga and mindfulness.


Our Thoughts:

Have you ever noticed how animals stretch? Perhaps you have a pet cat or dog? Or maybe you enjoy watching funny animal videos and have seen them arch their backs or reach for the sky! Animals seem to know the importance of stretching and do it quite often. Do you?

Yoga With Animals is a fantastic introduction to kid-friendly yoga poses, with bright and colorful spreads that include fun rhymes, images of animals as well as a child imitating their poses, and a paragraph explaining exactly how to practice the pose!

You can reach like a giraffe, balance like a flamingo, curl like a cat, roar like a lion, and more! Children are sure to love pretending to be animals and stretching the way animals stretch, all while learning to breathe and have lots of fun with the movements.

I practice yoga several times a week and love the relaxation and energy it gives me. My five-year-old loves to join in because of the animal-like poses so she was extra thrilled to have a book of poses of her own! We pull this out quite often now and talk about the animals we are imitating. It's definitely a book we will get tons of use from!

Includes a foreword from the renowned yoga instructor, Tara Stiles, as well as an 'Animal Yoga Guide' at the back that shares additional photos of kids posing with a bit of information about how the pose may benefit you! There's also a bit of information about each animal so kids are sure to have tons of fun and learn something from this great hands-on book!


Many, many thanks to National Geographic Kids for this fantastic book!


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Tuesday, February 18, 2020

They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel (Children's Picture Book Review)



They All Saw A Cat
by Brendan Wenzel

Published by Chronicle Books
on August 30, 2016

Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 44 pages
Ages: 3 - 5 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Literary Awards:
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Picture Books (2016)
NAIBA Book of the Year for Picture Book (2017)
Caldecott Medal Nominee (2017)

Synopsis:
The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws...

In this celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many views of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?

Our Thoughts:

A wonderful poetic story all about perspective! 

The cat walked through the world and they all saw.
The boy saw the cat, as did the dog, the fox, the fish, and many more. Each one saw the cat, from above or below, as it went on its way, and each perspective was different. The bird sees the cat differently than the mouse. The cat sees them all in turn and even himself.

There's a great lesson here about perspective and how unique it can be to each individual! I especially liked the question posed about what the cat sees when he sees his own reflection. It's a good opportunity for discussion.

There's also plenty to learn about the animals and their varying perspectives; snakes sensing heat, worms sensing vibrations, skunks that see in black and white, and bats that use echolocation. You'll notice differences in them all!

  

We discovered and read A Stone Sat Still recently and loved it! I didn't realize until after that there was a book, this book, that came first!  I really enjoyed this one as well but A Stone Sat Still is longer with more perspectives and more of an overall story. It made a much bigger impact on us but we really enjoyed They All Saw A Cat as well! 



A Stone Sat Still
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Thursday, February 13, 2020

We Love Babies by Jill Esbaum (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

We received a physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


We Love Babies!
by Jill Esbaum
Published by National Geographic Society
on December 31, 2019
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 2 - 5 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
A wonderfully playful picture book showcasing adorable baby animals and celebrating their glorious diversity, from "paws and claws and little flippers" to "feet that look like fuzzy slippers!"

This hilarious picture book with rollicking, rhyming text reads like a crowd-pleasing call, pumping up readers' excitement for the cutest baby animals ever. Illustrated with lively National Geographic photography, We Love Babies! presents furred, feathered, and finned baby animals of all shapes and sizes. Whimsical cartoon cheerleaders add to the fun, popping up throughout the book to lead fans in the irresistible refrain: "We love babies, yes we do, we love babies, how about you?"

Our Thoughts:
Who's ready to spread the love for Valentine's Day?

We Love Babies features animal babies from all over the world along with poetic text that describes them and why we tend to love them! 

Who doesn't love baby animals?!
This super cute book has so many adorable babies to look at--from geckos to hippos to jerboas--to keep your little one busy (and in love)!
There are also little illustrated animals that act as cheerleaders and have their own thought bubbles to jump in from time to time exclaiming what they love about the animals mentioned.

At the very end, there is a 'Meet the Babies' spread that shows each and every featured species paired with their name and what the special baby name is if they have one!

This adorable little book will delight your animal-loving Little Ones!




Many thanks to the publisher for providing us with a copy of this book! We loved it!

More like this:
This Book is Cute! by Sarah Wassner Flynn
Animal Ark by Joel Sartore & Kwame Alexander

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Thursday, February 6, 2020

The Bat Book by Charlotte Milner (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing us with an e-ARC of this children's nonfiction picture book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


The Bat Book
by Charlotte Milner
Published by DK Publishing
on February 6, 2020
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, Picture Books
Length: 48 pages
Ages: 5 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Take an amazing journey through the upside-down world of bats with Charlotte Milner's The Bat Book. 

Bright, bold and beautiful illustrations accompany fascinating facts about these furry flying mammals and their importance to the world we live in.
Following on from The Bee Book and The Sea Book, Charlotte Milner continues to highlight important ecological issues faced by our planet to children, this time focusing on the world's only flying mammals.

Our Thoughts:

We discovered Charlotte Milner's non-fiction picture books, The Sea Book and The Bee Book, just last year and loved both! They are gorgeously illustrated, packed full of interesting information, and make a great addition to any children's library!


The Bat Book is similarly fantastic, with scientifically accurate illustrations to go along with the plethora of information about our planets' 1,300 bat species.

Learn about the difference between megabats (some of which have five-foot wingspans!) and microbats and how they get around and catch their food in the dark. Find out how bats help the environment and keep ecosystems healthy by eating harmful insects, spreading seeds, and pollinating fruit trees!

Another thing I love about Milner's nonfiction books is how she explains the importance of these creatures and the effects that we have on them. She shares why bat populations are declining and what we can actively do to help, such as spreading seed bombs, growing bat-friendly plants in your gardens, and educating others about bats!



More from this author/illustrator:
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Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Bruce's Big Storm (Mother Bruce #5) by Ryan T. Higgins (Children's Picture Book Review)


Bruce's Big Storm
(Mother Bruce #5)
by Ryan T. Higgins
Published by Disney - Hyperion
on September 3, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 3 - 5 years


Synopsis:
Bruce's home is already a full house.

But when a big storm brings all his woodland neighbors knocking, he'll have to open his door to a crowd of animals in need of shelter - whether he likes it or not.


Our Thoughts:

We return to Soggy Hollow and its' woodland inhabitants in this whirlwind story about our favorite grumpy bear, Bruce!

Bruce is a bear that does not like neighbors. Unfortunately for him, he has many of them, including a trio of mice that haven't quite learned about boundaries.

When a big storm hits his corner of the forest, everyone ends up waiting it out at Bruce's house!
Of course, Bruce isn't too thrilled about any of it!

This is the fifth book in the Mother Bruce series, (sixth if you're counting the companion picture book, Be Quiet!) and we already want more! We've come to love Bruce and his 'friends', from Bruce's original case of mistaken identity where he became a mother to geese, to his run-in with the hilariously vocal local mice, to a neighborhood full of needy (and helpful) neighbors!


These books are humorous with good lessons and fantastic illustrations. I really enjoy Higgins' style! 
We're looking forward to seeing more of Bruce getting annoyed by the local wildlife in the future!

More from the Mother Bruce series:
Mother Bruce
Hotel Bruce
Be Quiet!
Santa Bruce
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Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Abner & Ian Get Right Side Up by Dave Eggers & Laura Park (Children's Picture Book Review)


Abner & Ian Get Right-Side Up
Story by
 Dave Eggers
Art by Laura Park
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
on May 14, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 80 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Abner and Ian are stuck sideways in this clever picture book created by a bestselling, acclaimed author and cartoonist--and perfect for fans of Elephant & Piggie and Press Here.

Abner and Ian are stuck sideways on the pages of their debut picture book. They can't start the story like this! Ian is trying to be brave, despite his dizziness and fear of heights. But don't worry, because Abner has a plan: Readers will shake and turn the book until they get the right side up! Sounds easy, right? Think again, because the real solution may be the opposite of what you'd expect.


Our Thoughts:
Abner & Ian are somehow sideways when we start their story and they include the readers and/or Little Listeners to join in to put things right. Unfortunately, no matter how we try to help, Abner & Ian end up more and more mixed up! In the end, the solution is easy as one, two, three...


This is a really fun, hands-on picture book where you, the reader, are included in the story! The characters, Abner and Ian, talk to you and ask you for help with their dilemma. In fact, you are the only one that can help them! You must shake and turn and flip this book to try to get the characters back on the page correctly!


This makes a wonderful interactive story to read to little ones in a group setting but it has an extra punch if the reader themselves get to shake and turn and flip the book! 



I did have an issue with the length of this book. My daughter was thoroughly tired of shaking and turning the book before we were even close to getting things sorted out for our characters. It does have some wacky, funny moments that we enjoyed though!




More from this author:
Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers & Shawn Harris
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