This or That: A Story about Choosing
by Kell Andrews , Hector Borlasco
Alexander has trouble making decisions. He is so afraid of making a mistake that he can’t decide what to wear, what to eat, or what activities to play. One day he orders an ice-cream sundae with every flavor and every topping, thinking that he will avoid the decision of choosing just one flavor. But when the flavors all blend together into a gross mess, he learns that avoiding a decision can be a mistake too.
I loved this book so much! What a great message for kids about making good decisions, considering their choices, and making the best decision they can in the moment, then accepting the results whether good or bad. I loved that Alexander gets some good character development, and learns an important lesson, but it’s also fun!
The illustrations are so cute, and I like the scribbly pencil art style! This whole book is a delight!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Not a Cat: A Memoir
by Winter Miller, Danica Novgorodoff
Gato the cat is having an identity crisis. He’s not sure if he is really a cat, or he might be a dog, a duck, a horse, a bee, or even a person. He seems to like some of the same things as all these other animals, and he has ridden in airplanes, taxis, and subways like a person. Maybe he is just a different type of cat with a wide range of experiences.
This is a silly story, and it is fun to follow along with Gato while he tries to make sense of his multitude of interests and hobbies. I’m just not quite sure what the philosophical message was supposed to be. The story sort of meanders around with a lot of weird questions and never comes to a conclusion.
I liked the illustrations pretty well, but the art style was not exactly my cup of tea. It’s fine, but did not appeal to me. The pages are brightly colored with cute scenes of Gato doing silly things. The fun part is that the real-life Gato actually did those things! I liked that it was based on a real cat.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Keepers of the Reef
by Sharon Wismer, Alice Wong (Illustrations)
In the ocean, special types of fish are the keepers of coral reefs, helping to keep the coral healthy and flourishing. They eat tiny waste particles, crop turf algae to make room for new coral, and eat large algae plants so they don’t overpower the smaller coral. This book teaches about the variety of types of coral, the environmental dangers that are threatening coral reefs around the world, and how every living thing in a coral reef is important for a healthy balance in the environment.
The illustrations are so pretty and misty. It really feels like you are floating underwater with the glow of sunlight filtering down under the waves. All the fish and coral are so colorful and beautiful! It makes you fall in love with these beautiful ecosystems.
There is a section that talks about how you can help to protect the coral reefs around the world, but I was confused about how some of the activities would actually be helpful. How does planting a tree, eating less meat, or riding your bike help the coral reefs? There is also a prompt to “protest for change” but it never says what changes we are protesting for.
Some of the prompts make sense, like picking up trash or being careful not to touch the coral if you are swimming. But a lot of the other ones didn’t have anything to do with coral or the oceans.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Luminous Libro 