This book introduces common animals like pigeons, squirrels, spiders, skunk, earthworms, and butterflies. The text is written in rhyme, which is constructed quite well. I really like that none of these are farm animals. So many children’s books focus on farm animals instead of the type of animals that we normally see in our neighborhood or even in the city.

I am not always a fan of rhyme in children’s books, but I have no cause to complain of the rhyming in this book. The meter is good, and the rhymes are good, although a little contrived at times. However, most of the poems for each animal are four stanzas long. Any child young enough to be interested in an animal book will probably not sit through four stanzas of poetry on each page. Shorter would have been better. Continue reading →

Gloria is trapped in her anxiety. It feels like a big problematic monster that whispers her fears into her ears every day. Gloria feels crippled by her anxiety, and she doesn’t feel comfortable going to the movies or sleep overs with friends. She loves to sing, but is too scared to sing in front of people. Is there any way for her to destroy her anxiety and be able to sing in the big auditions for a musical show?

I loved this book so much! The concept of anxiety is described in a really insightful way, as a mental and physical response, and as an emotion too. I also found it very compelling how Gloria’s family minimize her problem and don’t take her seriously. Most people will not take a child seriously, or will tell you to “get over it.” There are some very powerful messages in this story about taking control of your own emotions and pulling yourself out of your fears. However, the story never feels preachy or overly “inspirational”. The story flows smoothly and is fun and silly, making it a joy to read! Continue reading →

Mimbi and Kipo are a seal and a turtle who see the legendary moonbow, a rainbow created by the moon’s light. The magical moonbow transforms them into human children, and they meet a kindly fisherman who helps them to find a way to become animals again.

I loved this imaginative story, especially for the legend of the enchanting moonbow. This gave the story arc some great depth and history. The whole thing is absolutely whimsical! The characters are sweet and innocent, and the magic is delightful.

The illustrations are lovely with calming blues and greens. There are bright pops of color in the fish and coral, and the art style is soft and wavy. The coolest thing about the artwork is the border where the colored illustration turns into a pencil sketch. It’s really clever and a beautiful design. The gorgeous art work along with the bewitching story makes this book particularly sweet and enjoyable!
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Charlie is excited about attending his new school, but when he gets there all his classmates are cats! Charlie finds it hard to make friends when he feels so different, but he tries his best to be friendly and is rewarded with a new friend.

This book is so adorable! Charlie is so spunky and sweet, and full of energy. I love how he approaches his problems with enthusiasm and hope. The first thing he does is look in the library for some answers about how to befriend cats, and he learns about cat culture. I love the positive messages of acceptance in this story!

The illustrations are so cute! I fell in love with the art style and the hilarious expressions on the characters’ faces. The colorful cartoon style is perfect for this story, and all the little details in the background make this story special. The art really shows the energy and action of each scene in a way that draws the reader into the story. Continue reading →

Turtle is born on a beach, and immediately dives into the ocean. She travels through the ocean landscape, making friends, and living a good life. One day she returns to the beach where she was born to lay her eggs. On her journey to and from the beach, she notices that the ocean is not the same as it used to be. Plastic bags and bottles float around, and plastic rings or bits of net trap the sea creatures. All the garbage is making the ocean toxic, but Turtle encounters some friendly humans who start cleaning things up.

This book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride of ups and downs as Turtle revels in the joy of her beautiful ocean and then is devastated by all the garbage and trash that is floating around. What a wonderful story! Continue reading →

Every day Elliot and Ruby walk to school together. Ruby is very imaginative and sees adventure everywhere, but Elliot is more practical and scoffs at Ruby’s silly games. But gradually Elliot begins to get interested in Ruby’s flights of fancy, and finally joins in her imagination adventures.

Ruby thinks that rain puddles are really magic portal puddles that will whisk you away to a pirate ship. She thinks that a rock could be the last remnant of a crashed alien spaceship. A newspaper is really a treasure map, and a broken branch is a witch’s broom. Anything is possible when you use your imagination!

I LOVED this book so much! So cute and funny! Ruby is so spunky and sweet, and Elliot is adorable as he tries to hide his interest in Ruby’s games. I was enchanted with all the many imaginative things that the children discover. Continue reading →

Keith is a cat who wishes he was a pigeon. He tries to make friends with the pigeons, but they just fly away. The other cats make fun of him for trying to eat birdseed and coo like a pigeon. Will Keith ever be accepted just as he is?

The author says “This story is for anyone who feels that the way they are expected to be doesn’t reflect who they truly are.” It’s a really thoughtful and insightful look at accepting your own identity and finding friends who accept you too.

I like the emotional journey that Keith goes through to discover his true self. Personally, I think pigeons are rats with wings, but apparently Keith likes them for some reason. I definitely liked his strong personality and how he thoroughly committed to being a pigeon. haha! Continue reading →

Milo and Monty are two dogs with very different personalities. Monty loves to play and be petted and hugged by people. Milo likes to find a quiet spot by himself, and hates being petted. Monty is laid-back and relaxed. Milo is anxious and worried. Can Milo’s family learn to understand him and give him the space he needs?

I loved how the idea of different introvert and extrovert personalities is explored in this book, especially when a little boy comes to visit who is very quiet and retired like Milo. It was wonderful to see how the family learned to accept Milo just as he is and give him what he needs in different situations. Sometimes introverts need a safe and quiet space a little apart from others, but where you aren’t excluded from the activity. I loved how the characters learn to respect and appreciate Milo’s unique characteristics and needs. Continue reading →