Claris: Holiday Heist: The Chicest Mouse in Paris
by Megan Hess
4 out of 5 stars
Claris and her best friend, Monsieur Cat, are visiting New York for the holidays. They are Christmas shopping at Cartier when they witness a burglary, and set off across New York to catch the thief!
I loved the beautiful illustrations in this book! The colors are bright, and the lines are delicate. I love all the Christmasy decorations!
Continue reading
Claris: Bonjour Riviera
by Megan Hess
4 out of 5 stars
Claris the Paris mouse is on her way to the French Riviera for a holiday with her best friend, Monsieur Cat. They pack their bags with chic ensembles by Dior, Gucci, Prada, and Pucci. They travel with style in a Louis Vuitton bag to a glamorous hotel where they see movie stars. But Claris meets a beautiful songbird who is in trouble, and the two are tossed into a wild adventure aboard a fancy yacht.
I loved the beautiful illustrations in this book! The colors are bright, and the lines are delicate. Each scene is designed to give the story more depth. I did feel like some of the artwork is just cut and pasted from one page to the other with only a wardrobe change to make it different. I would have appreciated separate art for each page, instead of copies of the same facial expressions.
Continue reading
The Little Dancer: A Children’s Book Inspired by Edgar Degas
by Géraldine Elschner, Olivier Desvaux (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars
Young Jeanne travels to Paris with her mother, hoping to be accepted into the opera ballet. She works very hard to pass the entrance exam, and then spends her days in endless dance classes and rehearsals. When a painter asks Jeanne to model for a sculpture, she is eager to earn some extra money for her mother.
I love the Impressionist art that honors Degas’ style. The blurry lines and smudges of paint are full of meaning. Each page is awash with color and motion. The design of each scene is enchanting, and each dancer is elegant and graceful.
Continue reading
How to Spot an Artist
by Danielle Krysa
4 out of 5 stars
This book encourages children (and adults) to keep creating, keep making things, and be on the lookout for other artists. You have to watch out for art bullies, whether it’s someone else or your own inner critic who wants to squash your creativity and freedom. Don’t let any criticism stop you from being an artist!
I loved the silly art style in this book. The blob creatures are made from yarn, paint, dots, squares, rainbows, string, glitter, and something that looks like shiny gold foil. They all have stick arms and little dot eyes and big smiles. So cute!
There are so many positive messages in this book! It’s a fresh look at the “Believe in Yourself!” message, and it got me really inspired.
Continue reading
The House of Happy Spirits: A Children’s Book Inspired by Friedensreich Hundertwasser
by Géraldine Elschner, Lucie Vandevelde (Illustrations)
2 out of 5 stars
Some children notice that a house is being built around their favorite tree in the neighborhood. They are amazed at the beautiful designs and colorful structure of the building, but they worry that their tree might have been cut down. Then they meet the architect, and find out what really happened to their beloved tree.
This book was okay. I didn’t like the art style, and the story was weird. It all seems so chaotic. It takes an effort to read and understand what is happening in the pictures. It reminds me of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ when things don’t make any sense in the narrative. Some people like that free and wild style, but it makes me nervous. This book literally made me nervous because it’s so topsy-turvy and nonsensical.
Continue reading
The Mighty Silent e!
by Kimberlee Gard, Sandie Sonke (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars
Little e is a small alphabet-letter child, and many of his schoolmates overlook him because he is so quiet. But when the other alphabet letters try to make words when he is absent from class, they can’t make the right sounds. Only Little e can save the day!
This is one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen! Little e is such an adorable character. He dreams of being important someday, and he wears a superhero cape. It’s amazing how I became so emotionally invested in a little alphabet character guy. He’s so sweet!
Continue reading
This story is so whimsical and imaginative! I love the mellow story-telling and the rich writing. The story has a positive message that together we can overcome any obstacle and rescue ourselves if we work together.
I loved this adorable book! Poor Benjamin gets so confused about his body image, but I love how he is curious and resourceful and he is willing to learn and accept his own wonderfully-created body. He tries to use trash to hide his wings and feet and shorten his beak, so there is also a good message about human trash affecting animals.
The best thing about this book is the rich wording and silly descriptions! Benjamin finds the old mirror and promptly calls it a “twink-um-doodle” because it twinkles in the sunshine. There are some fun descriptions as Benjamin “wobble-waddles” or “kick-flips, flap-slaps” or “churn-turns, worm-squirms” to get the pieces of trash off his body. It’s a delight to read aloud and sure to bring giggles and chuckles to little readers. Continue reading
I am dazzled by the beauty and whimsy in this book! Afiya is a glorious little girl, dancing and laughing across each page. I love the sweet story that draws your attention to the beauty in everyday life and how precious each experience is.
The illustrations are truly special, with bright colors and misty lines. The artwork makes every little detail magical. Afiya herself is absolutely beautiful, with her pretty hair and pink cheeks and soulful eyes. I love her little earrings, and how she walks around barefoot like a dainty fairy. Continue reading
This book is so adorable! The little boy is so cute and cuddly. The story is very simple for little children, but has a charming plot.
I love the sweet illustrations with a soft art style.
