Picture Book Review: La Selva de Zonia

La selva de Zonia by Juana Martinez-Neal

La selva de Zonia
by Juana Martinez-Neal (Goodreads Author)
4 out of 5 stars

Zonia oye que la selva amazónica la llama y ella responde. Ella explora la selva cada mañana. Visita a sus amigos animales favoritos, y dice -Bienvenidos- a todos los bebés animales nuevos. Pero un día ve árboles en la jungla que han sido talados. La selva la está llamando otra vez, y Zonia decide responder y hacer todo lo posible para proteger su hogar en la jungla.

Me encantaron las hermosas ilustraciones de este libro. Las escenas de la jungla son atractivos. El arte es suave y de colores brillantes, mostrando las sombras bajo los árboles y el pelaje y las plumas de los animales. Hay una escena en la que la madre de Zonia está amamantando a un bebé, y el arte es apropiado y encantador con toda la belleza de la vida familiar.

Keep Reading for the Review in English!

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Picture Book Review: Ventanas

Ventanas by Julia Denos

Ventanas
by Julia Denos (Goodreads Author), E.B. Goodale (Goodreads Author) (illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

Mientras caminas por la calle al anochecer, las ventanas son como pequeños dibujos de la vida. Las luces brillan desde algunas ventanas y otras son oscuras. Algunas ventanas muestran un abrazo, un piano, una fiesta o alguien comiendo su cena. Cada uno tiene una historia que contar. Pero la mejor ventana de todas es tu propia ventana cuando llegas a tu hogar.

Este libro me hizo sentir tanta curiosidad acerca de cada pequeña ventana. La gente ordinaria que hacen cosas ordinarias se volvieron interesantes y asombrosos. El texto tiene un encanto que realmente te atrae y hace que las cosas básicas parezcan espléndidas.

(Keep Reading for the Review In English!)

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Board Books Review: Papi and Mami

Papi by Leslie Patricelli

Papi
by Leslie Patricelli ( Author)
4 out of 5 stars

Papá y bebé se divierten jugando y cantando juntos. Pueden jugar a los caballos, y pretenden ser monstruos. Papá puede levantar al bebé en alto hasta el cielo. Papá es alto y fuerte. Otros papás pueden ser bajos o altos, barbudos o calvos, pero este papá es el mejor para este bebé.

¡Ver al bebé y papá jugando juntos es muy reconfortante!

Hay una ilustración que parece ser de niños con dos papás, que se incluye en este libro. Hay papás de muchas razas y etnias.

Mami by Leslie Patricelli

Mami
by Leslie Patricelli (Author)
4 out of 5 stars

Mamá y bebé juegan juntos, leen, dibujan y cantan juntos. Van al parque a jugar a las escondidas, y el bebé ve a muchas otras mamás con otros niños. ¡Pero la propia mamá del bebé es la mejor mamá del mundo!

¡Este libro de cartón es tan adorable! Me encantan las ilustraciones sencillas y los personajes lindos. El arte es colorida muy brilliante, y atraerá la atención de los pequeños lectores. ¡Ver al bebé y mama jugando juntos es muy dulce!

Hay una mención de un niño que tiene dos mamás. Hay mamás de muchas razas y etnias includios en este libro.

Keep reading for the review in English!

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Book Review: A Teeny-Tiny History of Philosophy

A Teeny-Tiny History of Philosophy by Francisco Mejia Uribe

A Teeny-Tiny History of Philosophy: A Children’s Introduction to the Great Thinkers of the Philosophical Tradition (Philosophy Friends! Book 7)
by Francisco Mejia Uribe (Goodreads Author)
2 out of 5 stars

This book presents famous philosophers through history and gives an overview of their most popular ideas and beliefs. These include Aristotle, John Locke, Karl Marx, Nietzsche, and Descartes, with many others.

I certainly don’t agree with many of the philosophies presented in this book, but I think this would be a great way to introduce these ideas to young people and start a dialogue about why some of these philosophies don’t actually work in real life. Some of them have merit, but don’t align with reality. They are like dreams that sound nice, but lead to destruction. Other beliefs in this book are rooted in reality and have sound logic behind them.

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Board Book Review: Where, Oh Where, Is Barnaby Bear?

Where, Oh Where, Is Barnaby Bear? by Wendy Rouillard

Where, Oh Where, Is Barnaby Bear?
by Wendy Rouillard
5 out of 5 stars

We search for Barnaby Bear everywhere. We look at the beach, in the forest, in the ocean, and even in outerspace. He could be sailing, or having tea, or flying in a plane. We finally find Barnaby fast asleep in bed at the end of the day.

This board book is so cute! Barnaby is such an adventurer, and I love all the wild and crazy things he “could” be doing. He might be sailing on the back of a whale, or in a rocket ship to the moon!

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Picture Book Review: The Colorless Chameleon

The Colorless Chameleon by Hayley Irvin

The Colorless Chameleon
by Hayley IrvinRachel BostickCassidy Reynolds ( Author), Samantha Jo Phan (illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

Chameleon is very quiet, and doesn’t speak up very much. She relies on her expressive colors to tell her friends what she is feeling, but sometimes they misunderstand. Elephant asks to borrow Chameleon’s blue, and Lemur asks for red. Crocodile just takes Chameleon’s yellow without even asking, but Chameleon doesn’t know how to tell them no.

Chameleon confides in her friend, Flamingo, who encourages her to speak out and really tell her friends that she is not okay with giving away her colors. Chameleon gathers the courage to ask for her colors back.

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Picture Book Review: Tyrone O’Saurus Dreams

Tyrone O'Saurus Dreams by James Howe

Tyrone O’Saurus Dreams
by James HoweRandy Cecil
5 out of 5 stars

Tyrone’s family all have different ideas about what he should be when he grows up, but Tyrone has a secret dream to be a dancer. He meets some dancers at a gym. They are working out to be stronger. Will Tyrone have the courage to join them at a dance class? Will he ever admit to his family that his true dream is not what they had imagined?

What a great story! I love that, although Tyrone is worried that his family will not understand, they are actually very supportive and kind. Tyrone is such a sweet character, and I love his character growth as he finds the inspiration to follow his own dream, instead of letting other people influence him into doing other things.

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Picture Book Review: Baby Moses in a Basket

Baby Moses in a Basket by Caryn Yacowitz

Baby Moses in a Basket
by Caryn YacowitzJulie 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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Picture Book Review: One-osaurus, Two-osaurus

One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman

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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Picture Book Review: Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See

Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See by Sam McBratney

Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See
by Sam McBratneyLinda 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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