Mole’s Quiet Place
by Jane Chapman
Mole and Beaver light a lantern in their window each night, and the light welcomes their friends to come visit. At first they have a fairly quiet evening with a small group, but each night more and more animal friends show up for cake and music and talking. It ends up being a lot of noise! Too much for Mole, who longs for some quiet time alone. Mole confides in Beaver, who hatches a plan to make sure Mole can have the alone time she needs to rest and recharge.
I love this sweet story about an introvert needing their alone time! Even extroverts need at least a little bit of quiet to find some rest. It’s so lovely that Beaver and the other animals took Mole’s needs seriously. They respected her, and didn’t take it personally when she needed to spend time away from them. They made room for Mole’s needs and that enabled Mole to spend time with her friends on her own terms, so that everyone could enjoy their time together.
I love the beautiful illustrations! The art is so pretty and really brings the story to life. Whether it’s a scene of vibrant clamor at a party or the soft quiet of Mole’s solitary moments, the art reflects the emotions of the story at each point.
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.
High Top: The Sneaker That Just Can’t Stop!
by Tom Lacey
High Top is a shoe in Shoe Town. He loves to run and jump and dive in “feet” first. But sometimes he goes so fast that he doesn’t realize that he is causing problems for other shoes. He splashes in puddles and gets his friend wet. He bumps into someone and spills their cupcakes. He gets too excited dancing with Shoezanne Ballerina and gets her ribbons all tangled. He thinks Vincent Van Toe’s painting needs more red, so he splashes red paint all over. When High Top meets an old wise shoe named Platoe, he realizes that he hasn’t been a very good friend. He apologizes and prepares a special surprise for his friends!
This is such an imaginative story! I love all the shoe puns. It’s really funny and teaches a good lesson about slowing down to make sure that others are having fun too.
The illustrations are hilarious, because all the characters are shoes. Some of them have little spindly arms and legs, but some types of shoes use their laces as their arms and hands. The designs are all so different and cute!
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.
The Moonlight Zoo
by Maudie Powell-Tuck, Karl James Mountford (Illustrator)
Eva has lost her pet cat, Luna. She discovers a hidden doorway under her bed that leads to the Moonlight Zoo. A helpful wolf guides her through the different areas of the zoo where lost pets can find refuge. They look through the penguin palace, monkey island, and even the land of the elephants, but Luna is nowhere to be found. Finally they arrive at the Cat Kingdom where cats and tigers and lions and cheetahs are lounging around. And there is Luna, safe and sound! Eva and her pet travel back through the magical doorway under her bed and curl up safely together back at home.
What a magical book! Every page is so enchanting as the story whisks you away to another magical place in the zoo. The animals are wild and beautiful and kind, and Eva gets to run and laugh with them, embracing her own wildness too.
I love that Eva has some kind of hearing device on her ear, and throughout the search for Luna she is listening to hear Luna’s purr. The hearing device is never mentioned in the story, but I think it adds a little depth to her character and shows the special connection she has with her pet.
The art work is gorgeous! The colors are so vibrant, and the art is delicate and detailed. I love that some pages have die-cut openings showing a little peek into the magic of the next page. The whole book is bathed in moonlight with cool deep colors.
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.
Do You Know How Much God Loves You?
by Tammi Salzano, Natalie Merhab (illustrator)
God’s loves is greater and stronger than anything on earth! We are surrounded with His lovingkindness every day. He protects and keeps us safe. Even when we might be afraid, we can rely on God’s strength.f
This sweet book goes through all the ways that God loves us more than anything in the world. The text is in rhyme, which is well written. I really like that this book affirms over and over that God is loving and good. This book is like a warm hug of kindness and safety!
The illustrations are adorable and cute! Every page has a different family playing or singing or cooking together. They are of all ages and races, including grandparents and kids. Each scene has animals and a beautiful landscape showing the majesty of God’s creation.
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.
Can You Share, Little Whale?
by Jonny Lambert
Little Whale doesn’t want to share. It seems like everyone is always taking her snacks, or stealing her spot at the front of the pod. But when Blue shares some tasty seaweed with her, Little Whale thinks that maybe she should respond with a gift too. Little Whale dives into the coral reef, searching for something to share with Blue. A turtle shows her how all the creatures of the coral reef share their shelter and food so that there is enough for everyone. Little Whale returns to the pod and has to learn about sharing her family affections too.
What a sweet book! I love that Little Whale learns a good lesson, but it’s also just a fun story. The whale pod are such a close community, and every member of the family from littlest to the biggest is surrounded by love and affection.
The vibrant artwork shows a unique look at the ocean life in a coral reef or a whale pod. The illustrations are beautiful! There are so many little details in the coral reef, and you can see all kinds of tiny fish darting around in the background.
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 