Click the link to see a list of all the books shown in this video….GoodReads Shelf: Favorite Picture Books: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5836046-kailey-booksformks?shelf=favorite-picture-books
picture book
Picture Book Review: Neil Armswan
Wild Bios: Neil Armswan
by Courtney Acampora, Maggie Fischer, Zoe Persico
by Courtney Acampora, Maggie Fischer, Zoe Persico
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
“One small step for swan, one giant leap for birdkind.”
This colorful board book tells the story of Neil Armstrong’s journey to the moon, but with a cast of animal characters, and hilarious animal puns.
This colorful board book tells the story of Neil Armstrong’s journey to the moon, but with a cast of animal characters, and hilarious animal puns.
This book follows his life story and legacy, starting from when Neil “Armswan” grew up as the oldest of his “flock” with two siblings. Neil learns to fly, becomes an Eagle Scout, and serves in the Korean War where he receives three air medals as a naval aviator. He becomes a test pilot, and falls in love, starting his own “flock” with his lovebird “Gannet”. They “migrate” to Houston with their “cygnets”, where Neil launches into orbit in the Gemini 8 and Apollo 11 missions, leaving “webbed” footprints on the Moon.
I loved the silly puns and adorable animal characters! The whole book is so bright and funny, and the legacy and accomplishments are truly inspiring. The writing is perfect to read aloud with young children, and the illustrations are engaging with interesting details in the background to capture the attention of little readers.
This book is also well-timed with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, when so many people are celebrating that national accomplishment, and little ones might be wondering what it’s all about. Continue reading
Picture Book Review: Lost Kitties #ADORBS
Hasbro Lost Kitties Level 3 Squad Goals: #ADORBS
by Maggie Fischer
by Maggie Fischer
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
These cute little kitties are into all sorts of hijinks, pranks, and kerfuffle…
Nap-kin can’t find a decent place to nap.
Bon-bon keeps baking and baking, but the kitties tummies are never full.
Francis gets a crick in his tail that only some relaxing yoga can undo.
Prankster Pants mixes sugar into the soap and it attracts a garden full of butterflies.
Memez is practicing for a music contest, but his dance moves are uninspiring until the dancing kitties tell him that the “best dance moves are the ones that make you feel like yourself.”
Nap-kin can’t find a decent place to nap.
Bon-bon keeps baking and baking, but the kitties tummies are never full.
Francis gets a crick in his tail that only some relaxing yoga can undo.
Prankster Pants mixes sugar into the soap and it attracts a garden full of butterflies.
Memez is practicing for a music contest, but his dance moves are uninspiring until the dancing kitties tell him that the “best dance moves are the ones that make you feel like yourself.”
I love the cute storylines and funny little dramas! The illustrations are full of bright colors and hearts and rainbows. The writing is perfect for this reading level, and the fun comedy and short chapters keep it interesting.
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Picture Book Review: The Green Giant
The Green Giant
by Katie Cottle
by Katie Cottle
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
When she goes to visit her grandfather in the country, Bea discovers a green giant made of plants in the greenhouse next door. They have a lovely summer together, playing, swinging from trees, flying kites, and jumping rope with vines. But soon, Bea has to return to the city, and the green giant gives her a magical gift.
I thought this story was charming! The giant tells Bea all about when he was a young sapling in the city, and how he had to move out to the country because of all the pollution that made it hard for him to breathe.
Bea herself is an adorable character. Curious and sweet, she enjoys simple summer activities and is friendly to everyone (and every plant).
I like the crayon look of the art style, but the artwork isn’t very polished or symmetrical. Sometimes Bea’s eyes are different sizes, and the green giant’s design is severely lacking. He just has a plain smiley face for a face! Just two dots for eyes and a line for a mouth. I would have expected something a little more imaginative from an artist. And his body doesn’t seem like it has any structure. He’s a boneless blob of green and yellow leaves. He looks weird, instead of endearing.
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Picture Book Review: It’s Your World Now
It’s Your World Now!
by Barry Falls
by Barry Falls
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This children’s book encourages children to be creative and true to their dreams, reminding them that they are capable of anything, but also that not everything will go their way. But most importantly, this book conveys the message that each child is loved, no matter what.
The one reason I enjoyed reading this book is the possibility for pointing out so many fun details in the illustrations. There is a ladybug hidden on every page, and it’s so delightful to search for it in the pictures. When reading with a child, it would be really fun to point to each picture and ask them “What is that?” or “Who is that?” and teach them about various people, places, and things.
All the illustrations are bright and colorful with a cartoonish look. The pages vary from simple and clean to extremely busy with complicated pictures of various things all jumbled together. I prefer the clean style, but I can also see the appeal of the jumbled images since it would be fun to point out each thing on the page while reading with a child. Continue reading
Picture Book Review: The Big Book Adventures
The Big Book Adventure
by Emily Ford, Tim Warnes
by Emily Ford, Tim Warnes
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Foxy and Piggy love to read. They share their reading adventures with each other, and describe all the wonderful characters they have met. They encounter mermaids and dragons. They fly on a magic carpet, and find buried treasure. Foxy goes to outer space on a rocket, and Piggy has tea with Alice and the Mad Hatter in Wonderland. The two friends decide to start a book club, so that they can go on even more reading adventures together!
I loved the sweet characters of Piggy and Foxy. They are so cute!! They bounce from story to story enjoying each adventure and happy to share the experience of reading with a friend. Continue reading
Picture Book Review: Emiline
Emiline: Knight in Training
by Kimberli Johnson
by Kimberli Johnson
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This picture book features Emiline, a little girl who is training to be a knight. She struggles with reading because she has dyslexia, but her teacher encourages her to do her best and rise to the challenge. When her fellow knights are in danger, Emiline is the only one who can lead the way to safety by reading the riddle on a magic door and opening the portal.
The story is simple and fun. The illustrations are soft and graceful. But I’m not particularly impressed.
The story is almost TOO simple. The illustrations are TOO soft. I would have liked a little more clarity in the artwork. And the plot needed some more depth. There’s a lot of “telling” instead of “showing”, and the dialogue could have been more polished.
It’s a lovely little book, and I enjoyed reading it. Emiline is completely adorable, and I admire her spunk.
Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Picture Book Review: Sleep Tight, Sleepy Bears
Sleep Tight, Sleepy Bears
by Margaret Wise Brown, Julie Clay
by Margaret Wise Brown, Julie Clay
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This sweet book is the perfect bedtime reading to lull children into sleep. With its repetitive prose and soft illustrations, it’s sure to have you yawning and ready for a good night’s sleep. As a sleepy big bear and a sleepy little bear prepare for bed, they snuggle under the covers, sing a gentle lullaby, and drift off to dreamland.
The soft and warm illustrations are delightful, with light colors and fuzzy brush strokes that invite the reader to give a little stretch and yawn a big yawn before crawling into bed.
I can’t wait to read this to my niece at bedtime. I actually makes me sleepy reading it myself! haha!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Media Master Publicity in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Picture Book Review: Count to 10 with a Mouse
Count To 10 With A Mouse
by Margaret Wise Brown, Kirsten Richards
by Margaret Wise Brown, Kirsten Richards
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This adorable counting book follows a little mouse as he discovers how to count to ten. He is struggling to count up his fingers and toes, so he goes on an adventure through a hole in the pages of a book, and he finds wondrous things on every page that help him count. He meets fish, butterflies, cats, and crows, and counts them all.
The soft illustrations have beautiful detailed lines that show every little whisker and pawprint. The gorgeous colors will appeal to little children as they count up items on each page!
The poetry is whimsical and fun, and at the end of each page when the mouse climbs through to the next page, the same poetic line repeats. Toddlers love repetition, so this is the perfect book to read aloud with a child learning to count. Continue reading
Picture Book Review: Amelia Harehart
Wild Bios: Amelia Harehart
by Courtney Acampora,Maggie Fischer, Bonnie Pang
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
by Courtney Acampora,Maggie Fischer, Bonnie Pang
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This board book introduces young readers to the famous Amelia Earhart, reimagined as a bunny.
The story describes her childhood in a “burrow” playing games with her sister and their dog “Furocious”. I especially enjoyed reading about how she built her own rollercoaster in her backyard, collected newspaper clippings of “furnominal” women to inspire “hareself”, and bought her first “hareplane” The Canary.
The story describes her childhood in a “burrow” playing games with her sister and their dog “Furocious”. I especially enjoyed reading about how she built her own rollercoaster in her backyard, collected newspaper clippings of “furnominal” women to inspire “hareself”, and bought her first “hareplane” The Canary.
It’s so hilarious to read all the funny animal words included in the story, like “anybunny” and “hopstacle.” Those details in the writing are what make the book so special.
The illustrations are so adorable and bright! I really love the colorful lines and pleasant expressions of the characters. I also loved the charming details in the background of each page, like a little yellow canary bird that flies with Amelia as her copilot. Amelia looks brave and cheerful on every page, and her determination and spirit are celebrated throughout the book.
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Luminous Libro 