Baby Moses in a Basket
by Caryn Yacowitz, Julie Downing (Illustrator)
4 out of 5 stars
As Baby Moses floats down the Nile river, some animals help him drift along and keep him from harm until he arrives safely in the arms of the Egyptian princess who will adopt him.
I thought this was such a sweet story about little baby Moses! It’s nice to imagine that God really did send animals to watch over the baby.
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One-osaurus, Two-osaurus
by Kim Norman (Goodreads Author), Pierre Collet-Derby (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars
Some little dinosaurs decide to play a counting game of hide and seek. The dinos all sneak quietly through the pages to find a place to hide, but dino number 10 is stomping onto the scene with a roar!
The adorableness is strong with this one. I loved the cute storyline, and the sweet little dinosaur characters. The story is fun with plenty of action and engaging rhythms in the narration.
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Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See
by Sam McBratney, Linda Olafsdottir (Goodreads Author) (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars
Mindi insists that she is being harrassed by a big goose which no one else can see. Her parents try to reassure her that there is no goose, but Mindi continues to be afraid. Her father asks for advice from a wise old farmer, who introduces Mindi to a very special goat. Is there a way for Mindi to get rid of that menacing goose once and for all?
The illustrations are beautiful, and I love the soft art style. I think it’s very clever the way the illustrations use shadows to suggest that the imaginary goose is lurking in the background.
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The Hidden Triceratops
by Richard Bevan (Goodreads Author), Io Shepard (Illustrations)
2 out of 5 stars
This book is about two smaller dinosaurs, a triceratops and pterodactyl, who become friends. They help each other to find food, and they trick a T-rex and escape from him.
I think the backstory of this book is really sweet. The author and his little neighbor teamed up to write the story and do the illustrations. As a friendly collaboration, it’s adorable. As a published book, it has a serious marketing problem.
Based on the illustrations and cover, I got this book to share with my 3 year old nephew. However, it is much too text-heavy for a young child. The amount of text would be more appropriate for an 8-10 year old reader, but the subject material is too condescending for that age group. The tone of the story is more suited to young readers, and the illustrations are for young readers, but there is way too much text on the page for a young reader.
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Muddy Hands, Sudsy Hands
by Christine Prill, John Konecny (Illustrations)
3 out of 5 stars
A little boy wonders, What is the big deal about washing your hands all the time? Then he realizes the mud and dirt and germs that are on his hands, and decides to wash his hands thoroughly before eating a meal.
The simple illustrations are cute, and I liked the funny expressions on the little boy’s face when he realizes just how dirty his hands really are. I’m not a big fan of the computer-generated art style, but it is well done and colorful.
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Matched (Matched, #1)
by Ally Condie (Goodreads Author)
3 out of 5 stars
Cassia follows the rules. She is excited for the benevolent government officials to choose her Match for her, the man she will one day marry. She is matched with her childhood friend, but briefly sees another boy in her match information. She is told that it was only a mistake, but she’s curious about the other match, and begins to bend the rules and then break them.
I really loved the dystopian setup in this book! The seemingly benevolent government who watches your every move, and makes all your life decisions for you based on data and predictions and genetic compatibility. It was such a cool and interesting setting!
I really loved Cassia’s character development. I loved her internal struggle, and how she begins to question her world. She is torn between two boys, two lives, and two selves. Does she choose to play it safe and have a good life with her match? Or does she choose to rebel and live free, but risk losing everything? I was fascinated by the intricate details of her emotions and thoughts.
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Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
by Kate Douglas Wiggin
4 out of 5 stars
Rebecca leaves her home at Sunnybrook Farm to move in with her two aunts, Miranda and Jane. With many little brothers and sisters at home with her mother, Rebecca hopes to get a good education and be able to support the family someday. But Aunt Miranda is terribly strict, and Rebecca must find consolation with her more compassionate Aunt Jane.
I have always loved this sweet story about a smart girl growing up in the middle of nowhere. Rebecca has imagination and cleverness far beyond anyone else in her little country town. But she learns to appreciate the kindness and neighborliness of the people around her.
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Marvelous Machines: A Magic Lens Book
by Jane Wilsher
5 out of 5 stars
Have you ever wondered what makes machines work? How do they function and move? How do cell phones work? How do submarines dive and rise again? What happens when you start a car engine? This book explores common machines that we take for granted, and explains the basics of how they work using weight, friction, gravity, electricity, fuel, and magnetism. There are bicycle gears, microwaves, planes, telescopes, elevators, and even robots!
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Science and Me: Inspired by the Discoveries of Nobel Prize Laureates in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine
by Ali Winter, Mickael El Fathi (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars
This book gives short biographies of 13 Nobel Prize winners in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine. From Marie Curie to Einstein, each page lists their discoveries, their challenges and setbacks, and their determination to succeed.
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Sounds of the Sky
by Moira Butterfield ( Author), Jonathan Woodward (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars
You can explore bird habitats around the world, and learn all about the amazing creatures that live there. This book has 9 sounds of birds that live in forests, mountains, jungles, and even deserts.
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