picture books

Board Book Review: Next Stop: Kindergarten!

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Next Stop by Brooke Jorden

Next Stop: Kindergarten!: A Preschool Graduation Affirmation
by Brooke Jorden
5 out of 5 stars

This board book encourages the young reader that they are ready for kindergarten. They know the colors and shapes. They know all their numbers and letters. They know how to listen and obey. There’s no reason to be worried about starting kindergarten, because these little readers are ready to learn!

This is such a cute book! I love the positive messages about being proud of all you have learned, and being willing to take on new challenges.

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Spanish Picture Book Reviews: Cucu en el Mar, Vivan las Uñas de Colores, La Frontera

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Cucu! en el mar/Peekaboo in the Ocean by Cocoretto

Cucu! en el mar/Peekaboo in the Ocean
by Cocoretto (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

This cute board book asks the reader, Who is hiding there? The illustrations first show an ocean creature covering their eyes to play peekaboo, then when you lift the flap you can see them diving through the seas or digging through the sand.

This is such a sweet book! I love that it is bilingual in Spanish and English for little readers who are learning two languages. The flaps are very sturdy to withstand the destruction of little hands. I love the adorable art and the bright colors! Every page is charming and fun!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

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Board Book Reviews: F is for Farm, and C is for City

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F Is for Farm by Ashley Marie Mireles

F Is for Farm
by Ashley Marie Mireles (Goodreads Author), Volha Kaliaha (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars

This board book leads the reader through the alphabet, teaching words that have to do with farming. Some of the words are obvious ones (D is for Duck, and B is for Barn), but others of them are more exotic (X is for Ximenia), and one of the words left me confused about why it was included (N is for Next-Gen).

The illustrations are bright and colorful, and I love the cute art style! Every page is vibrant with animals, plants, and farming equipment. The farmers pick apples in the orchard, irrigate the fields, harvest pumpkins, milk the cow, and collect eggs from the chickens.

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Picture Book Review: I Don’t Want to Go to School

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I Don't Want to Go to School by Lula Bell

I Don’t Want to Go to School
by Lula Bell, Brian Fitzgerald (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

This picture book follows Mouse and Dinosaur as they prepare for their first day of school. They are both so scared. Mouse worries that the children won’t like her, and Dinosaur worries that the teacher might be mean. But there is a huge surprise waiting for the class when they arrive at school! Mouse and Dinosaur learn to love school and not be so nervous.

I love the colorful illustrations! Every page is popping with brightness and fun. The art is really expressive and cute! I love the crayon style of the art.

This whole story is delightful and fun, and this would be the perfect gift for a little reader who is just starting a new school year!

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Picture Book Review: I Like the Wind

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I Like the Wind by Sarah Nelson

I Like the Wind
by Sarah Nelson (Goodreads Author), Rachel Oldfield (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars

Children are woken by the wind blowing through their window, whispering to come outside and play. They fly a kite, race the wind, and watch the clouds blowing by. The branches of the trees bend in the wind, and the windows shake and rattle.

I loved the free and breezy mood of this book! I personally love being out in a windy day, so this book really resonated with me.

The illustrations are so cute and colorful! Every page is full of blustery wind. The leaves and flags and curtains in the background really feel like they are being recklessly blown about. The art is so good that you can feel the movement of the wind in every scene.

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Baby Book Reviews: It’s Bath Time, and Rhyme with Me!

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It's Bath Time! Indestructibles by Carolina Búzio

It’s Bath Time! Indestructibles
by Carolina Búzio (Goodreads Author) (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

When the babies get dirty, it’s time for a bath. Little elephants get splashed with water from their parent elephant’s trunk. Parent lions lick the fur of the lion cubs to get them clean. And human babies have a bubble bath!

I love the cute artwork in this book! Every page is so colorful and fun. This would make the perfect gift for little babies and toddlers!

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Picture Book Review: Sweet Pea Summer

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Sweet Pea Summer by Hazel Mitchell

Sweet Pea Summer
by Hazel Mitchell (Goodreads Author)
5 out of 5 stars

A little girl has to stay with her grandparents because her mother is sick. She starts working in her grandparents garden to grow the best sweet pea blossoms for the flower competition. There are challenges and set backs, but the little girl learns to weather the storm until her mother is better again.

This book was so cute! The little girl is so sweet and vulnerable, but she finds that inner strength and starts to gain confidence in her gardening abilities. The grandparents are loving and kind, and the whole atmosphere of the garden is soothing. I love all the positive messages in this book!

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Picture Book Review: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

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William Shakespeare's a Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare's Globe

William Shakespeare’s a Midsummer Night’s Dream
by Shakespeare’s Globe, Jane E. Ray (Illustrations), Georghia Ellinas (reteller)
3 out of 5 stars

When the Fairy Queen Titania and the Fairy King Oberon are fighting, no one is happy. Least of all Puck, who is tasked with finding the nectar of a magical flower that will make people fall in love. Puck is up to mischief, making all the wrong people fall in love. There is a lot of merriment in cases of mistaken identity, but can Puck put things right again?

This retelling of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream condenses the main story of the play, but keeps all the main characters and plot fairly intact. Even as much as it is condensed, the story still feels too long and complicated for a picture book for young children. I’m sure a child would have trouble keeping track of the many characters. The text is also too wordy and long for a picture book.

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