Picture Book Review: Muddy Hands, Sudsy Hands

Muddy Hands, Sudsy Hands by Christine Prill

Muddy Hands, Sudsy Hands
by Christine PrillJohn 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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Non Fiction Book Review: Marvelous Machines

Marvelous Machines by Jane Wilsher

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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Non Fiction Book Review: Science and Me

Science and Me by Ali Winter

Science and Me: Inspired by the Discoveries of Nobel Prize Laureates in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine
by Ali WinterMickael 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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Non Fiction Book Review: Sounds of the Sky

Sounds of the Sky by Moira Butterfield

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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Non Fiction Book Review: Sounds of the Wild

Sounds of the Wild by Moira Butterfield

Sounds of the Wild
by Moira Butterfield (Author), Stephanie Fizer Coleman  (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

You can explore island habitats around the world, and learn all about the amazing creatures that live there. This book has 9 sounds of animals, birds, and even whales that live on (or near) the islands of Sumatra, the Galapagos, the Azores, and other islands.

Each page has a jungle, beach, or ocean scene with several interesting animals and a paragraph giving information about each one. They hunt and fish. They fight for territory, and hide their young. They are noted for their extreme size, fast speed, or clever skills. I love that the book features many endangered animals, raising awareness about preserving these precious and rare creatures.

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Non Fiction Book Review: Ultimate Earth Oceans and Seas

Ultimate Earth by Miranda   Baker

Ultimate Earth: Oceans and Seas
by Miranda BakerGareth Lucas (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

You can explore the fantastic creatures in the ocean! This book has sections about dangerous predators in the sea, the fastest and the biggest swimmers, and creatures that can disguise themselves in strange ways. There are lift-the-flap features and extra facts on every page!

I loved the cool illustrations in this book! The lift-the-flap additions are really cleverly placed on the page in different ways that hide and reveal information as you read. You can first see a shark swimming along, and then leaping up to hunt. It’s such a smart way to bring action into the book!

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Non Fiction Book Review: Amazing Treasures

Amazing Treasures by David Long

Amazing Treasures: 100+ Objects and Places That Will Boggle Your Mind (Our Amazing World)
by David LongMuti (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

Famous gems, ancient manuscripts, and beautiful monuments; there are all kinds of different treasures in the world. This book explores natural wonders, old ruins, royalty with massive wealth, and legends of lost treasures. There are sunken treasures, architectural marvels, and fossils from ancient times.

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Picture Book Review: Spin a Scarf of Sunshine

Spin a Scarf of Sunshine by Dawn Casey

Spin a Scarf of Sunshine
by Dawn CaseyStila Lim (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

Nari has a little sheep, and uses the wool to make a scarf. She washes the wool, brushes it, and spins it into yarn. She dyes the yarn with natural marigold dye. When the scarf gets old and tattered, she puts in the on the compost heap, and uses the compost to grow new plants for her little sheep to eat.

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Picture Book Review: In the Land of Fairies

In the Land of Fairies by Daniela Drescher

In the Land of Fairies
by Daniela Drescher
3 out of 5 stars

In every season, the fairies have special tasks and parties. In the spring, they greet the new flowers. At Midsummer, they have a dance. In the fall, they help the forest animals to gather food. And in the winter, they wear soft cloaks to keep warm.

The fairies look depressed. Not a single fairy is smiling in this entire book. Most of them are frowning or looking vacantly into the distance. It would be fine if some fairies were smiling and some were frowning, but there is no other expression, no other emotion. There is no variety at all. Every single one of these fairies looks sad and depressed.

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Picture Book Review: Evie and the Strawberry Surprise

Evie and the Strawberry Surprise by Stefanie Dahle

Evie and the Strawberry Surprise
by Stefanie Dahle
4 out of 5 stars

Evie the Strawberry Fairy is confronted with a mystery. Her magic wand is missing. Hedgehog has weird red spots all over. Laurel’s hair has turned orange. Summer heard a loud bang that frightened all the sunshine out of her. What could these things mean? Together the friends decide to investigate.

I liked this sweet story, and how the friends work together to solve the mystery. It’s imaginative and funny! However there were a couple of things towards the end of the story that were not explained. Evie finds her wand, but it is broken. A big deal is made about how she can’t use her broken wand. Two pages later it is inexplicably mended. The text just says, “Her wand was mended, and everyone was happy.” But they don’t show HOW she repaired her wand.

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