It’s the summer of 1974, and the Watergate scandal is all the news. But for Nell Sanders, 12, there are other worries. Five months ago, her mother had walked out, leaving Nell to care for her depressed father Ronnie, a short order cook, three brothers, and the house. Mom may be gone, but her father’s […]
Why Do We Cry? by Fran Pintadera, illustrated by Ana Sender
Published by Kids Can Press Summary: When Mario asks his mom why we cry, he gets a poetic answer describing different scenarios that might make a person cry: sadness, frustration, anger, and loneliness to name a few. The most important reason for crying, she concludes, is because you feel like crying. Mario notices his mom […]
Can I Eat That – Children’s Book Review
Do eggs grow on eggplants? If I eat jelly and I eat fish, can I eat jellyfish? These and many more funny questions and answers, that’s what “Can I Eat That” is loaded with. Fussy eater or adventurous with food, this book by Joshua David Stein is sure to bring a smile on your face. […]
Gold Rush Girl by Avi
Published by Candlewick Summary: Victoria (Tory) lives with her parents and younger brother, Jacob, in Providence, RI, where she chafes under the expectations of her parents and strict Aunt Lavinia. When her father loses his job and proposes going west with Jacob to seek gold, Tory sneaks on board their boat, revealing herself only when […]
Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton
Published by Candlewick Summary: Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a tiny tide pool, but today they’re off to visit the ocean. It’s a long journey, and when they get there, Little Crab is scared. As one big wave after another washes over them, Little Crab is ready to turn around and go […]
Review: Nit Boy
Lewis Snow has nits. Lots and lots of nits. But unlike most kids that endure the itchy, scratchy bugs sucking up the blood from their scalps, Lewis actually likes his nits. He considers them his friends. And it’s a good thing, too, because the colony of nits that live on his head have big plans. […]
What Are You Doing, Benny? by Cary Fagan and Kady Macdonald Denton
Review Copy provided by Tundra Books/ Penguin Random House Canada Where to Find What Are You Doing, Benny? [Affiliate Link] Amazon [Local Bookstore] Indiebound [Library] Worldcat In What Are You Doing, Benny? author Cary Fagan and artist Kady MacDonald Denton join together to tell the story of two brothers, their power dynamics, why NO is a limiting word, […]
The Cook and the King by Julia Donaldson and Illustrated by David Roberts
Review Copy Courtesy of Abrams Books for Young Readers [Affiliate Link] Amazon [Local Bookstore] Indiebound [Library] Worldcat I love The Cook and the King by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts so much. It is the most pure and unadulterated fun I have personally had while reading a picture book aloud to my kids in ages. When we finished […]
The Fabled Life of Aesop by Ian Lendler, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers Summary: Aesop was born a slave in ancient Greece over 2000 years ago. He learned that speaking out could be dangerous in his position, so he learned to talk in code, telling stories about the powerless and the powerful through his fables. Following an introduction to Aesop’s life, […]
Review: There’s a Zoo in my Poo
There’s a Zoo in my Poo takes an educational and amusing look at gut health and how an array of bugs work together to process food through our bodies. Broken into nine sections such as You are a Bug, All about the Poo Train, Bugs in our Guts, Your Poo and You, Feed your Zoo […]
Review: Shadow
Mum and daughter have suffered some severe trauma. It’s the two of them now and they have moved to another home. The child is afraid. Mum assures her there is nothing to be afraid of here; that there are no dark places at all in the new house. But under her new bed, hiding amongst […]
Review: Hound the Detective
Join Hound as he tries to unravel a mystery. This is a tricky case, with a big surprise at the end. Hound is a canine Sherlock Holmes, without the Watson sidekick. He’s a detective with a ‘beagle eye’ and uses his nose to ‘sniff and snuffle’ the clues and track down answers. In this story, […]
Soccer With Mom: Children’s Book Review
Sometimes we think we are progressive parents raising boys/girls without any gender bias only to realize it suddenly that a lot of such biases come to kids subconsciously from the environment they live in. I had one such realization recently. We have relocated to a different country a few months back and one day my […]
Review: If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall
IF YOU COME TO EARTH by Sophie Blackall Chronicle Books Picture Book 80 pages ages 5 to 8 From two-time Caldecott Winner author-illustrator Sophie Blackall! If You Came to Earth is a glorious guide to our home planet, and a call for us to take care of both Earth and each other. This stunning book […]
The Good For Nothing Frogs: Children’s Book Review
Yet another funny book from the My Crazy Stories series by Daniel Georges. We have read the earlier stories in this series and like the earlier ones, this one is also very funny but ends with a meaningful message. Wait, actually not just one meaningful message but many. The Good for Nothing Frogs is a laugh-out-loud […]