Elephant Island
by Leo Timmers

5 out of 5 stars

Elephant is shipwrecked on a tiny island, looking for rescue. But the only rescue in sight is a tiny mouse boat. When Elephant tries to get on board, the ship sinks. But Elephant is resourceful enough to create something new from the wreckage, and soon they are having too much fun to even think of leaving the new Elephant Island.

This book is so cute! Elephant is one seriously determined creature, and I love the way that he rallies others to his island, and they create their own little community there. The story is so funny that it had me giggling several times, but it is also heartwarming!

Alex and Alex
by Ziggy Hanaor, Ben Javens (Illustrator)

2 out of 5 stars

Alex and Alex are two genderless friends, who enjoy various activities. But when their preferences differ, they become angry with each other. Alex likes to eat burgers, while Alex is a vegetarian. Can they resolve their differences and accept each other?

I’m not sure what the overall message is in this book. I like the positive message about accepting that your friends are different from you, and that everyone is allowed to like different things and eat different things. But I don’t like the weird genderless concept. If one Alex were a girl, and the other one was a boy, then it would be cute. But the book is very pointed in not assigning a gender to either one. So it’s just confusing and weird. The blurb on the back of the book even says “Alex is not a boy, and Alex is not a girl.” What does that even mean?! This story is just strange.

The Wildwood Elves
by Anne-Marie Chapouton

5 out of 5 stars

The little elves decide to go on a trip to the seaside. They pack up the carts, and harness the mice for the journey. They stop for a picnic along the way. When they arrive at the sea, they are amazed at how big and salty it is. They discover shells, seaweed, and crabs. They build a sandcastle. When it is time to go home, they harvest some seaweed and take home a few of the biggest shells to serve as bathtubs.

Dreams of Near and Far
by Martin Widmark

4 out of 5 stars

Noah is depressed because his dog died. He begins to see a cat in his dreams. Mia is an orphan searching for a home. Mia’s cat leads her on a journey across the country, and eventually Noah and Mia find each other.

This is an emotional story as Noah and Mia are both searching for happiness and belonging. The writing is very sentimental and introspective.

The Tale of the Tiny Man
by Barbro Lindgren, Eva Eriksson (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

A lonely little man wishes for a friend, and befriends a stray dog. The two form a close bond, but the tiny man worries that the dog will leave him.

This is such an emotional story! The tiny man’s loneliness and sadness are very strong in the beginning. But his joy and delight when he makes friends is just as powerful at the end of the book. I love the quaint writing style and the way that the story brings little details to the forefront. The tiny man stops to notice the flowers blooming and stars shining, and each detail of life has a true meaning.

When the Sakura Bloom
by Narisa Togo

5 out of 5 stars

People caught up in the hustle and bustle of the city stop to notice the cherry blossoms as the trees begin to bloom in the Spring. It’s time for the Sakura Festival. People have picnics under the trees. There are food stalls set up and lanterns are hung. Everyone enjoys the beautiful pink blossoms until the festival is over and the blossoms fall to the ground, making room for new green leaves.

This is such a beautiful book! The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous! I love the soft art style. Every page is so lovely that you could frame it and hang it on your wall.

Through the Forest
by Yijing Li

3.5 out of 5 stars
A young boy wanders through the forest with an entity called “Emptiness”. Together they find objects that remind the boy of his special memories, and he realizes that his memories will guide him through life. Knowing that his memories are part of who he is, the boy is no longer lost in the forest.

I loved the beautiful illustrations in this book! The art style is soft and whimsical and flowing. It makes you feel that you are floating in the misty world of this little boy’s mind.

The Spider Who Lived in the Attic
by Jacqueline Regano, Pearly L. (Illustrator)

2 out of 5 stars

An artistic spider meets a butterfly, who encourages him to leave his dusty attic and share his art with the world.

The plot is adorable, and I liked the premise of this book. It does have positive messages about having the courage to share your gifts and talents with others.

However, the writing really needs an editor. There are multiple grammar, capitalization, and punctuation mistakes. I found it very odd that some of the story is told in rhyme, and other parts don’t rhyme at all. There is no apparent meter, and the parts that do rhyme are not good rhymes. It’s just very awkward.