book review

Picture Book Review: Dulcinea in the Forbidden Forest

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Dulcinea in the Forbidden Forest by Ole Konnecke

Dulcinea in the Forbidden Forest
by Ole Konnecke
5 out of 5 stars

Dulcinea has been told not to go in the forbidden forest, because an evil witch lives there. But when the witch puts her father under a spell, Dulcinea goes looking for the witch to find a way to save her father. She journeys through the forest, and outwits the old witch!

I loved this imaginative story so much! The creatures in the forest are so weird-looking, and the story is magical and exciting. There are also some really funny lines that had me laughing!

Dulcinea is so resourceful and smart! I was inspired by her courage and her love for her father. The way that Dulcinea tricks the witch was so interesting and unique.

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Spanish Picture Book: Un Lobo Con Mucha Hambre

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Un lobo con mucha hambre
by Silvia Borando
4 out of 5 stars

Un conejo corre por el bosque gritando a todos los que encuentra que hay un lobo hambriento en el bosque. Intenta que el caracol se escape, pero el caracol es demasiado lento. Intenta hacer que el lirón corra, pero el lirón tiene demasiado sueño. Intenta que el burro se escape, pero el burro es demasiado terco. ¿Puede el conejo salvarlos antes de que el lobo venga a comérselos a todos?

¡Este es un libro tan adorable! Pensé que la historia era muy divertida. Pensé que el conejo era muy ingenioso al tratar de ayudar a todos. Les grita a todos que huyan, y si no corren, simplemente los levanta y los lleva a un lugar seguro.

¡Me encantaron las ilustraciones! Cada página está llena de colores brillantes y lindos animales. Me encanta el dulce caracolito. ¡Es tan pequeño y lindo! ¡Qué libro tan adorable!

KEEP READING FOR THE REVIEW IN ENGLISH!

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Book Review: Atlas of Amazing Architecture

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Atlas of Amazing Architecture by Peter Allen

Atlas of Amazing Architecture: The Most Incredible Buildings You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of
by Peter Allen
4 out of 5 stars

This book explores beautiful architecture around the world. These are some lesser well-known buildings and structures that aren’t as popular as the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben, but have been influential nonetheless.

I loved this cool book! It was so interesting to learn about these buildings, the architects who designed them, and the places where they were built. I like that the book doesn’t just tell you about the building, but also about the history behind it and the culture of the country that influenced it.

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Picture Book Review: Skywatcher

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Skywatcher by Jamie Hogan

Skywatcher
by Jamie Hogan
3 out of 5 stars

Tamen lives in the city, and has never seen the stars. There is too much light pollution to be able to see the night sky. Tamen’s mother takes him to the country, where he discovers the beautiful constellations and the Milky Way. He sees nocturnal animals like owls and moths, and falls in love with the beauty of the stars.

This book was really sweet and meaningful. It highlights the importance of preserving some areas of our world where there are no artificial lights, so that our connection to the stars will never be lost.

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Picture Book Review: Agent Llama

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Agent Llama by Angela Woolfe

Agent Llama
by Angela Woolfe, Duncan Beedie (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

Charlie is a fabulous spy. She is hot on the trail of a stolen pair of underwear, fighting off evil goons and saving the world from the dastardly duo, Bogdon Boom and Greta Grimm. She parachutes from a crashing plane. She skis down a mountain at high speed. She outwits the bad guys, and does it all with style.

This book is so hilarious! I loved the funny plot and the exciting adventures. The rhyming text is so much fun to read out loud. I am very picky about rhyming text in picture books, but I was so happy with the rhythm and rhymes in this story. It really is delightful to read!

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Book Review: Emma Brown

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Emma Brown by Clare Boylan

Emma Brown: A Novel from the Unfinished Manuscript by Charlotte Bronte
by Clare Boylan, Charlotte Brontë
2 out of 5 stars

A child is mysteriously left at a girls boarding school. She has no memory of her past and is enrolled under a false name. Mr. Ellin takes it upon himself to find out about the girl’s history, hoping to restore her to her family.

Charlotte Bronte wrote the first twenty pages, and then tragically passed away before she could finish this intriguing story. And a modern author, Clare Boylan, has tried to finish the book in Charlotte Bronte’s style. I was not impressed.

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Book Review: Fairy Tales for Brave Children

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An Illustrated Collection of Fairy Tales for Brave Children by Hans Christian Andersen

An Illustrated Collection of Fairy Tales for Brave Children
by Hans Christian Andersen, Wilhelm Grimm, Jacob Grimm, Scott Plumbe (Author) (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

I am so impressed with this beautiful book of fairy tales! They are told in that traditional fairy tale style, and include some well-known favorites like “Beauty and the Beast” and “Hansel and Gretel” as well as a few lesser-known stories.
I especially liked “The Wild Swans” and “The Three Golden Hairs”. I had never read “The Spirit in the Bottle” or “The Selfish Giant” before, and I enjoyed those very much as well. Each story is so enchanting!

The art style is so beautiful! The subtle colors and the delicate lines are absolutely lovely and magical! I love how little details in the background will catch your attention, and add meaning to the story. It’s so delightful to see these stories come alive in the art work!

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Book Review: Mermaids Rock The Coral Kingdom

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The Coral Kingdom by Linda Chapman

The Coral Kingdom
by Linda Chapman, Mirelle Ortega (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

Marina and her father have just moved to a new underwater neighborhood, and Marina makes some new friends at school while her father researches rare fish in the area. Marina has to put up with a snobby girl at school, but she happily joins the Save the Sea Creatures club with her friends. However, Marina and her friends are frightened by a strange creature that is evidently destroying the local coral reef caves. They find some weird clues, but no one has sighted the creature. Can they solve the mystery before the damage gets worse?

I loved this cute book! The mermaid culture is wonderfully imaginative, and I thought it was so fun to learn about Marina and her friends. We also get some real life facts about interesting fish and conservation in the ocean. The mystery had me in complete suspense! I was puzzling and wondering, What is this big sea monster creature that is destroying the coral?

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Non Fiction Reviews: What Adults Don’t Know About Art and Architecture

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What Adults Don’t Know About Art by The School of Life

What Adults Don’t Know About Art: Inspiring young minds to love and enjoy art
by The School of Life, Alain de Botton (Goodreads Author) (Editor)
5 out of 5 stars

This book is geared towards children, introducing them to the world of art, and teaching them why art is so important. I love the approach here, and the simple way that the book leads the reader into a better understanding of beautiful art. It begins with a simple question, “What is art, and why is it important to each person?”

I love the philosophy in this book about how art can shape our experiences and our culture, connecting us to our past and reflecting our personal emotions. Art teaches us to focus on the things that are truly important in life; a baby’s smile, that particular shade of blue in the sky, the powerful weight of a mountain, or a delicious fruit. The little things in life are the most important and enduring.

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Poetry Review: I Wish I Had a Wookie

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I Wish I Had a Wookiee by Ian Doescher

I Wish I Had a Wookiee: And Other Poems for Our Galaxy
by Ian Doescher (Goodreads Author), Tim Budgen (Illustrator)
4 out of 5 stars

I wish I had a Wookie,
To keep the monsters out.
If nightmares came to get me,
You’d hear Chewbacca shout…

This adorable book has poems about Star Wars for children. Some of them are funny, some of them are a little more serious. Some are short or long or in between. They all have cute illustrations! I just love the light-hearted style of these poems, and the art style reflects that silly and playful mood.

Most of the poems deal with every day childhood things like scraping your knee, playing sports, caring for a pet, going to school, hanging with grandparents, and things like that. It’s so cute to see these things through the perspective of beloved Star Wars characters, or children who dress up in costume as their favorite character.

This book would be so much fun to read together with young Star Wars fans. What a delight!

This short poem is one of my favorites…
“Trash Compactor”
My dad yells, “Mae! What have you done?”
He bursts in with a crash.
But how can I create the scene
Unless I use real trash?

Haha! This book will definitely get you laughing!

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.