Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See
by Sam McBratney, Linda Olafsdottir (Goodreads Author) (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars
Mindi insists that she is being harrassed by a big goose which no one else can see. Her parents try to reassure her that there is no goose, but Mindi continues to be afraid. Her father asks for advice from a wise old farmer, who introduces Mindi to a very special goat. Is there a way for Mindi to get rid of that menacing goose once and for all?

The illustrations are beautiful, and I love the soft art style. I think it’s very clever the way the illustrations use shadows to suggest that the imaginary goose is lurking in the background.

The Hidden Triceratops
by Richard Bevan (Goodreads Author), Io Shepard (Illustrations)
2 out of 5 stars

This book is about two smaller dinosaurs, a triceratops and pterodactyl, who become friends. They help each other to find food, and they trick a T-rex and escape from him.

I think the backstory of this book is really sweet. The author and his little neighbor teamed up to write the story and do the illustrations. As a friendly collaboration, it’s adorable. As a published book, it has a serious marketing problem.

Based on the illustrations and cover, I got this book to share with my 3 year old nephew. However, it is much too text-heavy for a young child. The amount of text would be more appropriate for an 8-10 year old reader, but the subject material is too condescending for that age group. The tone of the story is more suited to young readers, and the illustrations are for young readers, but there is way too much text on the page for a young reader.

Muddy Hands, Sudsy Hands
by Christine Prill, John 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.

Spin a Scarf of Sunshine
by Dawn Casey, Stila 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.

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.

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.

Now That Night is Near
by Astrid Lindgren, Marit Törnqvist (Illustrated), Polly Lawson (Translator)
3 out of 5 stars

A little cat roams about the countryside at sunset, observing how all the animals are settling down to sleep. The cows, foals, piglets, rabbits, and lambs are all going to sleep. Finally the cat arrives at home to nestle at the foot of a child’s bed for the night.

The text sort of rhymes part of the time, and doesn’t rhyme the rest of the time. Not really sure what was happening there. The story briefly describes the animals nestling down to sleep in their burrows, pastures, and dens. And there is a repeating phrase, “Even cats are going to sleep, as bedtime’s nearly here.”

Anita and the Dragons
by Hannah Carmona (Goodreads Author), Anna Cunha (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars

Anita and her family are planning to leave the Dominican Republic in a large airplane that Anita pretends is a dragon. She is a ‘princess’ on her island. But what if she is afraid and lonely in a new land with a new ‘palace’ home? It will take a lot of courage to walk into the belly of the dragon and start a new life. She will have to learn a new language. She will miss her island home and all the beautiful familiar surroundings.

Bartholomew and the Morning Monsters
by Sophie Berger, Ruan van Vliet (Illustrator)
3 out of 5 stars

Bartholomew has trouble getting ready in the morning because the friendly monsters he partied with the night before, keep stealing his hairbrush, clutching at his clothes, and spilling his breakfast. Finally Bartholomew’s father steps in to help him get ready, and they share a special moment as they go out the door to start their day.

I thought this was a sweet and relatable story, especially for little kids who have trouble getting up in the morning. I really liked how the father comes in to help without criticizing or getting angry at Bartholomew.

The Pocket Chaotic
by Ziggy Hanaor, Daniel Gray-Barnett (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

Alexander lives in his mother kangaroo’s pocket, even though his sister says he is too old and ought to move out. His mother is always throwing random things into her pocket and it’s a big jumbled mess! Alexander tries to keep things organized, but with mixed results. He is so crowded in the pocket that he can barely breathe, and finally decides that he has had enough.

I loved this adorable story! It is completely hilarious from start to finish, and I loved every page!