Book Review: The First Christmas Sweater

The First Christmas Sweater by Ryan Tubridy
The First Christmas Sweater (and the Sheep Who Changed Everything)
by Ryan Tubridy

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

The rumor around the sheep farm is that Santa is looking for a special sheep to provide the wool to make the first Christmas sweater. Hillary is a rainbow-colored sheep who loves to make lists, and especially loves Christmas, but will her strangely-colored wool eliminate her from being able to donate her wool to Santa?

Each of the sheep in this Irish sheep farm have their own personalities and quirks. Hillary has many friends, but one of the sheep, Brian, is just annoying with his dumb jokes and “ewe” puns. Hillary spends her time daydreaming about Christmas, but Brian keeps interrupting her with boring small talk. Hillary would rather gossip with her bird friend, Didya, who is always asking “Didya know this? Didya know that?” and telling her all the news.

I loved all the sheep characters! They are so funny and cute. I could really imagine all their Irish accents. The plot is entertaining, and the writing is playful. There are many sheep puns, and several pages full of sheep jokes at the end of the book. Continue reading

Picture Book Review: William Sheepspeare

William Sheepspeare by Courtney Acampora
William Sheepspeare 
by Courtney AcamporaMaggie FischerZoe Perisco (Illustrations)

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

“To baa or not to baa… That is the question.”

The cuteness factor in this board book is through the roof! Reimagining the life of William Shakespeare as a sheep, everything is transformed into animalistic phrases, words, and illustrations. William Sheepspeare writes “ram-ances” instead of “romances”, and “shearious” tragedies like “Lamblet, MacBleat, and Julius Fleecer”.

Introducing young children to the beautiful Globe Theater and Sheepspeare’s home in Stratford with his family (his “ewe, Anne Hoofaway” and three “lambs”), the simple story-telling is the perfect style for little readers to learn about this historical figure. Continue reading

Book Review: I Hate Reading

I Hate Reading: How To Get Through 20 Minutes of Reading A Day Without Really Reading
I Hate Reading: How To Get Through 20 Minutes of Reading A Day Without Really Reading by Arthur Bacon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whahahahaha! This is hilarious! The perfect book for kids who hate reading and would rather play outside. This book offers tips on how to trick your parents into thinking you are reading, when really you are just moving your eyeballs from side to side on the page. Such a funny book with almost no illustrations, but still colorful and clever.

What a great way to take the pressure off when a kid doesn’t care for reading, and get them interested in reading again! This book is very sneaky about getting kids to read, because when you’re laughing you will WANT to read. Continue reading

Duology Review: Ginger Pye & Pinky Pye

Ginger Pye
Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is charming and cute, but I am not a “dog” person, so most of it was bleh for me. If you love dogs, then you would love this story!

The story is wholesome and sweet, but there are many grammatical errors that had me cringing. When you say “He waked up” instead of “He woke up”, I’m definitely judging you.

The plot itself is interesting and fun, full of little adventures, but it’s also very predictable and obvious.

Pinky Pye
Pinky Pye by Eleanor Estes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a cute little story about a kitten named Pinky who is abandoned on Fire Island, and adopted by the Pye family while they are on vacation there. Pinky and the other family cat, Gracie, are the only ones who know the secret hiding in the attic of the Pye’s vacation cottage. Pinky astonishes everyone on the island with her feline prowess and intelligence. The little family adventures keep the story interesting and fun!

The plot is fairly obvious, and the writing is nothing special; but the wholesome charm of this story kept me reading and enjoying it!

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Picture Book Review: The Awkward Owl

The Awkward Owl
The Awkward Owl by Shawnda Blake

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adorable children’s book with lovely pictures, about an awkward owl who doesn’t have the confidence to fly well until a little girl shows some love and believes in him! I love the cute artwork and the sweet little story about believing in yourself. It’s really funny too, because the owl goes crashing into things sometimes!

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MKs Enjoy Reading

These MKs in Colombia just received a package of books, and they love to read! This young man got some books about drawing, and now he’s drawing all the time. He’ll probably grow up to be an artist!

They got some wonderful books, and enjoy reading them together as a family!

 

Nothing brings a family together like reading, especially on the mission field!  You can donate to Books for MKs so that more books can be sent to missionary families.

DONATE NOW at http://www.gofundme.com/booksformks

Book Review: The Dragons of Ordinary Farm

The Dragons of Ordinary Farm
The Dragons of Ordinary Farm by Tad Williams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tyler and Lucinda are dismayed that they have to spend the summer at the farm with their mysterious Uncle Gideon, whom they have never met. But when they arrive at Ordinary Farm, they find it full of mythical beasts and other-worldly people. The secrets go deep, and the past will threaten everyone on the farm, unless Tyler and Lucinda can navigate the mysteries of Ordinary Farm, warding off attack from the outside before it collapses from within. Continue reading

Children’s Book Reviews: “Hairdo You Do?” and “Lap On, Lap Off”

Hairdo You Do? by Alina Kazarian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This little book is completely adorable! The author is a young girl who has lovely hair, which she likes to style in different ways for different occasions. In this book, she tells about the different hair styles for each activity, sleeping, dancing, playing, going to school or a friend’s house. The cutest part is that it is all told in rhyme! Continue reading