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 →

Little Bear accidentally breaks Mommy’s favorite sunflower, and she is worried that her mother will be upset with her. But Mommy reassures Little Bear that they are always connected by their love, even when things go wrong.

This book made me cry, it’s so sweet and full of love! I really like that the story is not too cutesy or sentimental, but still has a loving message that is powerful. This is one story that will NOT make little kids roll their eyes.

Little Bear is such a spunky character! She plays the drums, runs in a race, flies a kite, and climbs a tree.

Mermaid is hiding, and we have to look for her behind the seaweed, in the coral, in the treasure chest, and all over the ocean! Along the way we meet the Seahorse, the Dolphin, a Fish, and an Octopus, until we finally find Mermaid at the end of the book.

The cuteness factor is through the roof in this board book!! I can’t handle how adorable this is!

The design is really lovely and clever with die-cut openings and felt fabric flaps to look under. We have to search for Mermaid under the seaweed by lifting the seaweed green flap to reveal Octopus underneath! I love how this design gets young readers using tactile movements and coordination. Continue reading →

A little mouse makes friends with different animals on each page where everything is shades of the same signature color. The orange monkey, the red lion, the pink flamingo, and blue elephant all join the mouse, and they meet the yellow giraffe at the end for some fun games together.

I found it strange that the giraffe is the titular character, and yet only appears on one page. The mouse is the main character who meets all the other animals throughout the book. Odd.

I loved the way that each color is described as having a mood. It’s really thoughtful and sweet! Not only does this book introduce colors, but also gives some little lessons about healthy emotions too. Continue reading →

Noah goes on an ocean adventure, first snorkeling in a coral reef, then diving deep in a submarine, finding a sunken treasure, and moving into Antarctic waters.

I love the die-cut openings in this board book! Each one is like a little peek into the next adventure, and the openings are arranged very cleverly. There is also a surprise pop-out design at the end that is very cool!

The illustrations are so colorful and bright! I love the cartoony style of the art and how expressive Noah is. You can really see the action in the artwork as Noah discovers new things on every page. Continue reading →

Spots the ladybug wants to play hide and seek, but Beepo the lightning bug says that ladybugs are all too brightly colored and can’t hide well. Spots is determined to prove Beepo wrong in the most hilarious game of Hide-and-Seek ever!

I loved this cute book!!! So adorable to see the other ladybugs trying to hide, and they fail miserably because they are just too red and bright. But Spots is smart, and he has a plan to fool Beepo. I loved his spunky character!

The die-cut openings are arranged so cleverly to showcase important aspects of hiding in the story. The ladybugs try to learn how to hide from other insects and creatures. There is a brown butterfly who hides on a brown brick wall, and his wings are die-cut through to the other side of the page, making it a really special element of the story. A green caterpillar and a stick insect are also die-cut this way to emphasize how they hide in their natural environment. So clever!

The illustrations are just beautiful with lovely colors and a cute design. The little insect characters are so adorable! I love the cartoony art style and pretty backgrounds.

This book is really funny and sweet!  This book is available as a hardcover and also as a board book.

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.

When Squirrel wakes up from his winter hibernation, he has a strong feeling that his hole in a tree is no longer “the right place”. He asks all the forest animals what they think the “right place” is. The bird says a nest. The turtle just says “Inside” and goes into her shell. The mole says underground is the best place. Squirrel needs to find a way to bring all his forest friends together, because the “right place” is when they are all together.

I liked this cute book, and the journey that Squirrel takes to discover a place that feels comfortable for him and his friends. It’s a really lovely story with a good message. I like the repetition as Squirrel asks various animals the same question. Repetition is so great for young readers!

The illustrations are sweet and I like the simple designs. The colors are calming and make me feel like I’m in a cool green forest. There are some nice details in the background that make the artwork really special. Continue reading →