Activity Book Review: Origami City

Origami Neighborhood by Taro Yaguchi
Origami City: 75 Models to Fold and Build: A Fold-by-Number Book
by Taro Yaguchi

5 out of 5 stars
This kit has everything you need to create an origami paper city! There are pre-printed papers and a book with instructions for folding 75 different elements in the city, like buildings, vehicles, trees, and even animals.

Gradually the book moves from simple designs to more complex designs that require more folds. Everything is explained with detailed instructions and diagrams that clearly show each fold. The thing that makes this so easy is the numbered lines on each piece of paper. You just have to find the number and fold along the pre-printed line.

I love the colorful designs for libraries, fire trucks, and trees. There is even a fountain and a clock tower! Each design has beautiful details that make it really special.
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Activity Book: Paint By Sticker Dogs

Paint by Sticker by Workman Publishing
Paint by Sticker: Dogs
by Workman Publishing

5 out of 5 stars

This activity book has 12 beautiful designs, and hundreds of stickers in little mosaic shapes! Each design shows a different breed of dog running, playing, fetching a ball, swimming, or cuddling. It’s so easy to put the stickers into place, and the finished product looks wonderful. It’s very relaxing and helped me to get creative. You really feel a sense of accomplishment when you finish!

The stickers are sturdy and easy to remove from the sticker sheet. The colors are vibrant and it’s simple to follow the instructions to find the right placement for each sticker. I really loved that the pages are perforated, so that you can tear out the sticker sheet or the design or both. That way you don’t have to keep flipping back and forth in the book. Continue reading

Book Review: Princess Pistachio Treasury

Princess Pistachio Treasury by Marie-Louise Gay
Princess Pistachio Treasury
by Marie-Louise Gay

4 out of 5 stars

This treasury includes “Princess Pistachio”, “Princess Pistachio and the Pest”, and “Princess Pistachio and Maurice the Magnificent”.

In the first book, Pistachio is convinced that she is actually a kidnapped princess. She receives a mysterious crown in the mail, and believes that her real parents, the king and queen, will be coming to take her away to a palace. When she wears her crown to school, the other children make fun of her. Eventually, Pistachio learns to appreciate her family even if they aren’t royalty. She even learns to love her bratty little sister, Penny. Continue reading

Picture Book Series Review: Timo’s Garden, Timo’s Party, Timo Goes Camping

Timo's Garden by Victoria AllenbyTimo's Party by Victoria AllenbyTimo Goes Camping by Victoria Allenby
5 out of 5 stars
These children’s books are completely adorable! I loved every single one, and was very impressed with the lovely writing. The artwork is beautiful, and the stories are really special and sweet.
These books would be perfect for young readers who are just starting to read short chapter books on their own. Each “chapter” is 4-7 pages long.
Keep reading to read my review of each book!

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Baby Book: Al Galope!

AL Galope! by Rufus Butler Seder
Al Galope!
by Rufus Butler Seder

5 out of 5 stars

The animals gallop, strut, run, jump, fly, swing, flutter, and swim across the pages. Each animal is brought to life as the illusion moves when you move the page. The butterfly is my favorite, because its wings look so delicate.

Los animales galopan, pavonean, corren, saltan, vuelan, balancean, revolotean y nadan a través de las páginas. Cada animal es llevado a la vida cuando la ilusión se mueve cuando mueve la página. La mariposa es mi favorita, porque sus alas parecen tan delicadas.

This book is so clever! I’m very impressed with the illusions and how clean the design is. So simple and yet so entertaining.

¡Este libro es genial! Estoy muy impresionada con las ilusiones y lo limpio que es el diseño. Tan simple y a la vez tan entretenido. Continue reading

Baby Books: Te Amo, Bebe; Hola, Granja; Bebe, Vamos a Comer

Indestructibles by Stephan Lomp
5 out of 5 stars
All of these baby books are so cute! I love the sweet illustrations and simple designs.
¡Todos estos libros de bebés son tan lindos! Me encantan las ilustraciones dulces y diseños sencillos.
They are all available in both Spanish and English. These editions are bilingual, with the Spanish and English text side by side.

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Board Book Review: Danza Del Corral, El Libro del Ombligo, Cachorro Carinoso

¡Danza del corral! / Barnyard Dance! Spanish Edition by Sandra Boynton
Cachorro cariñoso / Snuggle Puppy! Spanish Edition by Sandra Boynton¡El libro del ombligo! / The Belly Button Book! Spanish Edition by Sandra Boynton
These sweet board books by Sandra Boynton are in Spanish, but are also available in English. Or vice versa.
I can’t stop laughing! These books are so hilarious! I love the cute illustrations and the bright colors in the art.
¡No puedo dejar de reír! ¡Estos libros son tan graciosos! Amo las ilustraciones adorables y los colores brillantes en el arte.

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Comic Review: Virtual Unicorn Experience

Virtual Unicorn Experience by Dana Simpson
Virtual Unicorn Experience (Phoebe and Her Unicorn, #12)
by Dana Simpson

4 out of 5 stars


Phoebe is best friends with a unicorn named Marigold, and this has some pros and cons. Unicorns have magic and can help you win a game of handball at recess or perform in a talent show, but their magic doesn’t always work as planned. Phoebe and Marigold have to navigate both the human and unicorn cultures to keep their friendship strong, and they are always learning something new and interesting about each other.

I loved the fun camaraderie between Phoebe and Marigold! They are such cute friends, and I loved how they banter back and forth. Their dialogue is really funny and silly! Continue reading

Picture Book Review: Indestructibles: Let’s Go Outside! and Let’s Be Kind

by Ekaterina Trukhan (Author) (Illustrations),Amy Pixton (Creator)

5 out of 5 stars

Let’s Go Outside – This book takes the reader on an outdoor adventure where we can stretch up like a tree, swim like a fish, and buzz like a bee. The writing is very simple, and just right for babies and toddlers learning their first words. I love that each page shows a parent and their child having fun in the forest or by the ocean.

As the parents and children explore the outdoors, there are little animals peeking out from behind the trees or swimming in the water. The little snails, turtles, frogs, and butterflies are so cute! There are birds, bunnies, and baby foxes too! So adorable!

Let’s Be Kind – This book teaches babies and toddlers about basic manners, saying please and thank you, and sharing toys with others. The writing is very simple, and just right for babies and toddlers learning their first words. Continue reading

Board Book Reviews: Good Night, Baboon! and ABC Dance!

Good Night, Baboon! by Sabrina MoyleABC Dance! by Sabrina Moyle
Good Night, Baboon!: A Bedtime Counting Book
by Sabrina Moyle (Author),Eunice Moyle (Illustrations)

5 out of 5 stars

Good Night, Baboon! – While the other animals get ready for bed, one baby baboon is determined to stay up! Baby baboon burps during snack time, brushes his bum instead of his teeth, plays loud lullabies on electric guitar, and runs around causing mayhem, until finally baby baboon is ready for a goodnight hug.

I love how this book is designed as a counting book, and we count down each animal group getting ready for bed. 9 skunks take a bath, 8 hamsters have a bedtime snack, 7 sloths put on their PJs, etc… and through it all, baby baboon is getting into trouble! Baby baboon manages to bounce across each page, getting into shenanigans before bed and monkeying around. I love how irreverent this book is!

ABC Dance The animals are all dancing in a massive parade of exuberant dance moves! From aardvarks to zebras, every animal group is hopping and stepping and thumping their tails. They show off their skills with the fandango, the waltz, the can-can, the tango, the hustle, and ballet.

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