Picture Book Review: Keith Among the Pigeons

Keith among the Pigeons by Katie Brosnan
Keith among the Pigeons
by Katie Brosnan

4 out of 5 stars

Keith is a cat who wishes he was a pigeon. He tries to make friends with the pigeons, but they just fly away. The other cats make fun of him for trying to eat birdseed and coo like a pigeon. Will Keith ever be accepted just as he is?

The author says “This story is for anyone who feels that the way they are expected to be doesn’t reflect who they truly are.” It’s a really thoughtful and insightful look at accepting your own identity and finding friends who accept you too.

I like the emotional journey that Keith goes through to discover his true self. Personally, I think pigeons are rats with wings, but apparently Keith likes them for some reason. I definitely liked his strong personality and how he thoroughly committed to being a pigeon. haha! Continue reading

Picture Book Review: Milo and Monty

Milo and Monty by Roxana de Rond
Milo and Monty
by Roxana de Rond

4 out of 5 stars


Milo and Monty are two dogs with very different personalities. Monty loves to play and be petted and hugged by people. Milo likes to find a quiet spot by himself, and hates being petted. Monty is laid-back and relaxed. Milo is anxious and worried. Can Milo’s family learn to understand him and give him the space he needs?

I loved how the idea of different introvert and extrovert personalities is explored in this book, especially when a little boy comes to visit who is very quiet and retired like Milo. It was wonderful to see how the family learned to accept Milo just as he is and give him what he needs in different situations. Sometimes introverts need a safe and quiet space a little apart from others, but where you aren’t excluded from the activity. I loved how the characters learn to respect and appreciate Milo’s unique characteristics and needs. Continue reading

Picture Book Review: I Love You With All My Heart

I Love You With All My Heart by Jane Chapman
I Love You With All My Heart
by Jane Chapman

5 out of 5 stars

Little Bear accidentally breaks Mommy’s favorite sunflower, and she is worried that her mother will be upset with her. But Mommy reassures Little Bear that they are always connected by their love, even when things go wrong.

This book made me cry, it’s so sweet and full of love! I really like that the story is not too cutesy or sentimental, but still has a loving message that is powerful. This is one story that will NOT make little kids roll their eyes.

Little Bear is such a spunky character! She plays the drums, runs in a race, flies a kite, and climbs a tree.

Continue reading

Board Book Review: Let’s Find the Mermaid

Let's Find the Mermaid by Tiger Tales
Let’s Find the Mermaid
by Tiger Tales,  Alex Willmore (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

Mermaid is hiding, and we have to look for her behind the seaweed, in the coral, in the treasure chest, and all over the ocean! Along the way we meet the Seahorse, the Dolphin, a Fish, and an Octopus, until we finally find Mermaid at the end of the book.

The cuteness factor is through the roof in this board book!! I can’t handle how adorable this is!

The design is really lovely and clever with die-cut openings and felt fabric flaps to look under. We have to search for Mermaid under the seaweed by lifting the seaweed green flap to reveal Octopus underneath! I love how this design gets young readers using tactile movements and coordination. Continue reading

Board Book Review: Let’s Play, Happy Giraffe!

Let's Play, Happy Giraffe by Georgiana Deutsch
Let’s Play, Happy Giraffe: A Book of Colorful Animals
by Georgiana Deutsch, Adele Dafflon (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

A little mouse makes friends with different animals on each page where everything is shades of the same signature color. The orange monkey, the red lion, the pink flamingo, and blue elephant all join the mouse, and they meet the yellow giraffe at the end for some fun games together.

I found it strange that the giraffe is the titular character, and yet only appears on one page. The mouse is the main character who meets all the other animals throughout the book. Odd.

I loved the way that each color is described as having a mood. It’s really thoughtful and sweet! Not only does this book introduce colors, but also gives some little lessons about healthy emotions too. Continue reading

Board Book Review: Zoom Ocean Adventure

Zoom by Susan Hayes
Zoom: Ocean Adventure
by Susan Hayes,  Sam Rennocks (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars


Noah goes on an ocean adventure, first snorkeling in a coral reef, then diving deep in a submarine, finding a sunken treasure, and moving into Antarctic waters.

I love the die-cut openings in this board book! Each one is like a little peek into the next adventure, and the openings are arranged very cleverly. There is also a surprise pop-out design at the end that is very cool!

The illustrations are so colorful and bright! I love the cartoony style of the art and how expressive Noah is. You can really see the action in the artwork as Noah discovers new things on every page. Continue reading

Picture Book Review: Hide-and-Seek Ladybugs

Hide-and-Seek Ladybugs by Paul Bright
Hide-and-Seek Ladybugs
by Paul Bright (Author), Jacob Souva (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

Spots the ladybug wants to play hide and seek, but Beepo the lightning bug says that ladybugs are all too brightly colored and can’t hide well. Spots is determined to prove Beepo wrong in the most hilarious game of Hide-and-Seek ever!

I loved this cute book!!! So adorable to see the other ladybugs trying to hide, and they fail miserably because they are just too red and bright. But Spots is smart, and he has a plan to fool Beepo. I loved his spunky character!

The die-cut openings are arranged so cleverly to showcase important aspects of hiding in the story. The ladybugs try to learn how to hide from other insects and creatures. There is a brown butterfly who hides on a brown brick wall, and his wings are die-cut through to the other side of the page, making it a really special element of the story. A green caterpillar and a stick insect are also die-cut this way to emphasize how they hide in their natural environment. So clever!

The illustrations are just beautiful with lovely colors and a cute design. The little insect characters are so adorable! I love the cartoony art style and pretty backgrounds.

This book is really funny and sweet!  This book is available as a hardcover and also as a board book.

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.

Picture Book Review: The Right Place

The Right Place by Beatrice Masini
The Right Place
by Beatrice Masini

4 out of 5 stars

When Squirrel wakes up from his winter hibernation, he has a strong feeling that his hole in a tree is no longer “the right place”. He asks all the forest animals what they think the “right place” is. The bird says a nest. The turtle just says “Inside” and goes into her shell. The mole says underground is the best place. Squirrel needs to find a way to bring all his forest friends together, because the “right place” is when they are all together.

I liked this cute book, and the journey that Squirrel takes to discover a place that feels comfortable for him and his friends. It’s a really lovely story with a good message. I like the repetition as Squirrel asks various animals the same question. Repetition is so great for young readers!

The illustrations are sweet and I like the simple designs. The colors are calming and make me feel like I’m in a cool green forest. There are some nice details in the background that make the artwork really special. Continue reading

Picture Book Review: I’m NOT a Mouse!

I'm Not a Mouse! by Evgenia Golubeva
I’m Not a Mouse!
by Evgenia Golubeva

5 out of 5 stars

Olivia hates it when her mother nicknames her “Mouse”. She feels like she turns into a real mouse every time her mother says it. She turns into a mouse while holding balloons and floats away. She turns into a mouse while roller skating and she falls inside the moving skate. She turns into a mouse while playing soccer and almost gets stepped on by her teammates. But worst of all, her mother calls her “Mouse” in front of the family cat, and Olivia gets chased by the ravenous feline! Finally, she decides to put a stop to it, and refuses to answer to the nickname at all. But as she looks around at other parents who nickname their children, she begins to realize that “Mouse” isn’t such a bad nickname after all.

The cuteness factor is off the charts with this one! The story is hilarious and sweet, and so imaginative.

Continue reading

Picture Book Review: My Panda Sweater

My Panda Sweater by Gillies Baum
My Panda Sweater
by Gillies Baum

5 out of 5 stars


A little girl wears her lucky panda sweater everywhere all the time, but when it gets too small, she donates it to a charity shop. She thinks carefully about the stories behind our clothing and why we might love a particular clothing item. Maybe a friend gave us that scarf, or maybe a famous relative wore that jersey. One day she sees another girl wearing her old lucky panda sweater, and the two become friends.

I loved this book! It’s so poignant and sweet. The writing style is really smooth and polished, but with a simplicity that requires only a few words to express a meaningful point. I love how this book explores the stories behind our clothing and why we attach so many feelings to our apparel. Continue reading