Category: Picture Books for Kids

Book Review: Cats’ Night Out

Age Range: 3+
Author:  Caroline Stutson
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
A Paula Wiseman Book
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
New York
2010
ISBN: 978-1-4169-4005-0

It’s night in the city, and the cats are coming out two by two to dance the night away.  Kids will hear about a slew of dance styles, and counting by twos in this absolutely charming book!

My kindergartener brought this book home as his weekly pick from his school library, and I think he hit the jackpot! I truly loved this book from the first time I read it to him.  The counting nature was ok, but what I really liked was that the cats were dancing in all different styles (jazz, tap, rumba, polka, and so on).  The rhyming nature makes it a fun read, and I had a fantastic time seeing what the cats were doing on each page and talking to my kids about the different dances.  Admittedly, only after finishing the book and reading the front flap did I realize this is also a count by twos book – which made the counting nature much cooler and unique as well.  And not only that – but apparently there is the corresponding number to the number of cats hidden on each page.  

So to summarize, this is a super cute count by twos book that introduces kids to various dance steps AND has a search and find for a number on every page.  I seriously loved it!

The cats are adorable (even for someone who strongly prefers dogs…) and dressed in outfits appropriate for each dance style. I did find some of the pages tough to read as there was a dark font on a dark background (apparently I’m getting old), but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to read this one over and over again.

Buy it on Amazon here. 

Buy it on Barnes and Noble here.

Book Review: Caring for Your Lion

Age Range: 3+
Author:  Tammi Sauer
Illustrator: Troy Cummings
Sterling Children’s Books
New York
2017
ISBN: 978-1-454-91609-3

What happens when the kitty you ordered is out of stock?  Well, the company decides to send you a full grown lion instead.  Don’t worry, this book is here to help!

This was a book we picked up at the library based on the “recommendation of the week” for my 5-year-old.  I’m so glad we did, because it honestly had me and my kids laughing out loud.  I even caught my husband laughing when he read it to them the first time.

The manual includes mostly practical steps for caring for a lion, with some surprising and hilarious “plan b” recommendations for when things don’t go as planned.  

The illustrations are bright, and I personally loved the way the lion was drawn.  Additionally, the expressions on the face of the poor kid who ordered a kitty and got a lion are priceless.  It’s clear this kid has a can-do attitude.

Highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a good laugh.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Buy it on Barnes and Noble here.

Book Review: Lincoln Tells a Joke; How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country)

Age Range: 5+
Author:  Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer
Illustrator: Stacy Innerst
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Boston, New York
2010
ISBN: 978-0-544-66828-7

This biography of Abraham Lincoln geared for children takes a unique approach by highlighting Lincoln’s sense of humor throughout his life.  

The biography is complete in terms of addressing Lincoln’s life from birth to death.  Throughout the book, the authors use his quotes to show the way in which Lincoln was able to breath a bit of humor into nearly any situation.  This is really doubly impressive when considering the difficulties and serious situations he dealt with throughout his life.

The acrylic illustrations are somewhat whimsical and different from what is typically found in children’s books. They are also interesting and compliment the story well.

Expect young readers to learn something about the 16^thpresident from this book, but also a sense of the importance that humor can play in life, especially when the going gets hard.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Buy it on Barnes and Noble here.

Book Review: Odie Speaks for the First Time, About Brothers and Sisters

Age Range: 3+
Author:  DaBarbara Branic Davis
Page Publishing, Inc
New York, NY
www.pagepublishing.com
ISBN: 978-1-68213-187-9

Odie is a puppy with a special gift who is adopted by a family with three children, Sissy, Gidget, and Puck.  The three children all have different interests, but they all have at least two things in common: they love playing together, and they love Odie.  The story tells of the different adventures the children have together through the course of their make believe games.  Finally, they invent a game in which they are trying to break a spell that will allow their favorite pup Odie to speak to them.  Much to their surprise, after a great deal of patience and teamwork, their dog does the unbelievable and speaks to them in rhyme!  Odie’s gift is just for him and the children, as he tells them he will return to barking as usual if others come around.  The story ends with the promise of new adventures.

This is such a wonderful family story.  While the harmony that the kids seem to experience day in and day out with each other may not be how things are every day with siblings, it does show how things are on the best of days with siblings.  I love that the kids in this story seem to get along and be best friends.  It lines up with what I was always told growing up and what I try to pass on to my kids…your siblings are your best friends!  Certainly my kids being friends during their lives ranks high on my hopes as a parent.

Despite the apparent ease of the children’s friendship with each other, they also show they can stick together to work on a problem. They do this through pretend play, but that seems perfectly appropriate for children. 

The themes of teamwork, patience, use of the imagination, and brothers and sisters getting along are sure to be winners for parents.  

The illustrations are big and bright in this book, and really seemed to capture the attention of my 5-year-old.  The author says to look for more adventures with Odie and the kids.  I look forward to that and hope the children will involve the parents in their new found secret with their pup.

Find it here. 

Book Review: Alistair’s Elephant

Age Range: 3+ 
Author:  Marilyn Sadler
Illustrator: Roger Bollen
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
New York
ISBN: 0-671-66680-0
List Price: $5.69 (used)

Alistair Grittle is tidy, self-disciplined, and excels at school (even raising both hands when he knows the answer to a question).  When an elephant from the zoo follows him home after one of his regularly scheduled weekend zoo trips, poor Alistair’s usually very ordered life is completely disrupted.  After taking practical steps of attempting to call the zoo to see if they may be missing an elephant, Alistair accepts he is stuck with the visitor all week.  He takes this all in stride, and makes it through the entire week.

One of five Alistair books by Marily Sadler, the publication date is 1983, but no doubt kids and parents today will find it funny and refreshing.  I recall having this story read to me as a kid, and I perhaps find it even more entertaining as an adult.  Let’s be honest; it’s amazing.  Alistair is an absolutely loveable character, and the nonchalant way he handles the curveball thrown to him when an elephant follows him home from zoo is simply perfect. Parents and kids will certainly share lots of laughs while reading this book.  As a bonus, reading this to slightly older children may provide a teaching moment about rolling with the punches when things don’t go our way.  As much as kids and parents love their routines, everyone knows stuff happens.  You can’t stop an elephant from following you home; you just have to go with it.

I was unable to find this book available for sale new at bookstores, but definitely look for it at second hand stores or online, or at your library.

Book Review: The White Curtain

Age Range: 3+
Author:  Daniel A. Birchmore
Illustrator: Gail Lucas
Cucumber Island Storytellers
Delaware
ISBN: 1-887813-09-8

I was fortunate enough to receive this book as a gift.  

A beautiful white curtain hangs in the window of a fine lady’s home.  It is the talk and admiration of the lady and her friends, but one day, it gets blown out the window and has its first taste of adventure.  Only to land in a mud pile not far away and be brought back and cleaned, the curtain is not deterred and looks for another chance to get out and see the world.  Not long after, it does just that, landing with a family whose children use it as a sail and later as a table cloth.  Eventually, the curtain ends up in a second hand store, and who should buy it, but the fine lady.  Happy to be home, but not fully satisfied, the curtain again hangs in its window, waiting for another opportunity to fly.

As I read this book, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was perhaps based on a true story of a curtain that the author either owned or recalled as a child.  I think perhaps one of the things that stands out about this book is the illustrations and “facial expressions” of the curtain which will likely appeal to children.  The expressions just make this curtain seem so warm, friendly, happy, and of course, adventurous.  After all, considering it ended up in a mud puddle on its first outing, the curtain displays a great deal of pluck and bravery as it seizes the next opportunity to fly out the window!

The story is straightforward, simple, and easy to follow for young readers.  However, the author manages to work in words such as “mahogany” and “luxuriantly” which are less common in children’s books, but provide the opportunity for increasing vocabulary…which is fantastic!  Additionally, parents will appreciate the creativity and resourcefulness of the children using the curtain at play and at mealtimes.

Book Review: Marvel Avengers Shake to Assemble

AgeRange: 3-10 years
Author:  Calliope Glass
Illustrators: Ron Lim and Richard Isanove
Marvel Press
New York
ISBN: 978-1-4231-7826-2

Shake to Assemble is a fun book, easy for kids to engage with, and one they will likely pick up again and again until it is memorized.

This book starts out with high energy that is carried all the way through.  The plot of the book is simple– the Avengers need to assemble.  One by one, six Avengers gather until they have to work together to get the Incredible Hulk to join them.  The illustrations are bright and straight forward, and almost entirely consist of the characters and their props.  The illustrations also work in some humor with side conversations that parents will likely enjoy (but are also entirely kid appropriate).

What I really love about this book is the way it involves the reader by giving directions on how the reader can help find the next Avenger.  For example, “Now try shaking the book from left to right three times.  Maybe we can find another Avenger.”  This has at least a two-fold benefit.  One, it helps little readers practice following directions.  Two, it keeps squirmy readers engaged.  With a command (clap, shake, tap, and so on) on nearly every page, it would be hard for even the most active little one to lose interest in this book.  The book even works in some counting throughout by telling how many claps, shakes, taps are needed and also at the end as the team ensures they have gathered everyone.

This is a superhero book, so Hawkeye does have a bow and arrow.  Additionally, in order to get the Hulk to join them, the team has to do a little coaxing which basically involves pestering Bruce Banner until the Hulk comes out. I personally felt they should leave poor Bruce Banner alone.  One might go so far as to criticize this as encouraging that type of behavior, but given it is in the context of comic book characters and specifically a trait of the Hulk, it is not something that would prevent me from sharing this book with my kids.

Find it on Barnes and Noble here.

Find it on Amazon here.