Picture Book Review: Human Town

Human Town by Alan Durant

Human Town
by Alan Durant (Goodreads Author), Anna Doherty (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

A family of elephants visit the “Human Town”, which is a protected reserve for the endangered human species. Animals can come to visit and look around to see humans in their natural habitat. The humans are going extinct because they fight amongst themselves and throw trash into their environment. The elephants are shocked to see how the humans are dying out little by little, and they are glad that the last humans are protected in the reserve from carnivorous poachers like lions and tigers.

This is such a fun book! It’s so interesting to see how the tables are turned. Instead of humans staring at endangered elephants in a zoo, it’s the other way around. There are so many cute details in the story that make it really funny and special!

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Picture Book Review: Really Bird 1-2

I Really Want to Be First! by Harriet Ziefert

I Really Want to Be First!: A Really Bird Story (Really Bird Stories, #1)
by Harriet Ziefert, Travis Foster (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator)

1 out of 5 stars

Really Bird has intense emotions, and he “really” wants to be the leader today. His friends, the Pup and Cat, agree to be the followers, and Really Bird leads them to a tree and tells them to climb while he flies up to the top of the tree. Pup tells them that he is not a good climber, but Cat and Really Bird encourage him to climb up. They get up to the top of the tree, and Pup is too scared to get down! Cat has to take the lead and carefully help the terrified Pup to climb down. Really Bird flies down, and argues with his friends that he was the first one on the ground. His friends argue for a moment, but then decide to let it go. Really Bird says, “Today I really wanted to be first, and I was!”

I don’t understand this book. Really Bird is a horrible little person. He leads his friends into danger, and then doesn’t even apologize to them for being so insensitive and stupid. The Pup told Really Bird that he was not a good climber, but Really Bird didn’t listen to his friend. He didn’t care that his friend was not enjoying their activity. Really Bird only thought about himself. Selfish mean little bird! What a horrible leader!

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Picture Book Review: Boo’s Shoes

Boo's Shoes - A Rabbit and Fox Story by Sybrina Durant

Boo’s Shoes – A Rabbit and Fox Story: Learn To Tie Shoelaces
by Sybrina Durant (Goodreads Author), Pumudi Gardiyawasam (Illustrator)

2 out of 5 stars

Boo is a little rabbit who doesn’t want to learn to tie his shoes. His friend the fox helps him to learn how to tie shoelaces, and encourages him to keep learning!

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Book Reviews: Museum Kittens #1-2

The Midnight Visitor by Holly Webb

The Midnight Visitor (Museum Kittens)
by Holly Webb, Sarah Lodge (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

Three kittens (Tasha, Boris, and Bianca) live with their family in the basement of a museum, where the night guard keeps them to scare away the rats. The kittens are intrigued when a stray cat brings in a black kitten, Peter, to live in the museum. Tasha, Boris, and Bianca are not sure they want to welcome Peter. He is so different, and no one knows where he is from. Peter will have to prove his worth if he wants to become a museum kitten.

This is such an adorable book! The kittens are so cute, and I love the little adventures they have. The plot is simple, but interesting. The writing style is perfect for this age group, and even enjoyable for an adult to read.

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Book Review: Hunters of the Lost City

Hunters of the Lost City by Kali Wallace

Hunters of the Lost City
by Kali Wallace (Goodreads Author)

4 out of 5 stars

Octavia has lived all her life within the walls of her city, the last refuge for humanity in a world that has been destroyed by war and plague. The only living things outside the walls were monsters. There was no human life left anywhere except in Octavia’s city…. or so she believed. Octavia meets a mysterious girl who claims to be from another city. Together they could destroy everything the town believes and bring healing to a society drowning in lies.

I loved this book so much! The adventure, the magic, the world building, the character growth; this book has it all! I got emotionally attached to the characters very quickly, and it was so wonderful to see how Octavia grows and heals and changes as the story progresses. There are so many big revelations and plot twists as Octavia learns just how deep the lies really go. Every time she discovers something new in her world, the reader discovers it along with her.

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Comic Review: If Ur Stabby

If Ur Stabby by Kaz Windness

If Ur Stabby
by Kaz Windness

2 out of 5 stars

Stabby the unicorn ends up stabbing everyone in the eye, and he gets jaded and dark and depressed. He can’t keep a job. He accidentally burst his birthday balloons with his horn. He is full of angst and anxiety. And it’s hilarious!

I have to admit, this book did make me laugh. But there were many parts that I couldn’t enjoy because of the profanity and and vulgarity and general disgustingness. I’m not sure why this is marketed as “teen and adult humor”. It’s definitely adult humor. I would never give this to a teen to read.

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Board Book Review: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes... by Annie Kubler

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes…
by Annie Kubler

5 out of 5 stars

This is the perfect board book for little babies who are just learning to identify parts of the body. The children in the artwork touch their heads, shoulders, knees, and toes, and then move on to eyes, ears, mouth, and nose as well. As you sing the song, you can point to each area of the body and dance along!

I really like the bright colors and simple design of this book. It’s perfect for catching the attention of little readers!

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Gift Review: The Ultimate Reading Challenge

The Ultimate Reading Challenge by Weldon Owen

The Ultimate Reading Challenge: Complete a Goal, Open an Envelope, and Reveal Your Bookish Prize!
by Weldon Owen

5 out of 5 stars

This “book” has little envelopes along the inside of the cover, with prizes inside for each reading challenge that you complete. If you read a graphic novel, you get a pad of notepaper that says “Books>Everything Else”! Each challenge has some sort of little prize, bookmark, notebook, coaster, keychain, button, or card.

I love the bright design of the challenges and prizes. The artwork is really attractive and fun! All the prizes are so cool! This definitely got me excited about reading, because I wanted to open each little envelope and find the surprise inside, and I was not disappointed!

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Book Review: How the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Were Built

How the Wonders of the World Were Built by Ludmila Hénková

How the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Were Built
by Ludmila Hénková, Tomas Svoboda (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

This book tells how and why the seven wonders of the world were built and by whom. Temples, pyramids, tombs, gardens, and a lighthouse; these incredible constructions stood for hundreds of years to astonish and amaze. But today we know very little about them. Archeologists and historians try to piece together the facts from ancient history to understand how such massive statues and temples were built.

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Book Review: That Boy Johnny!

That Boy Johnny! by Evelyn Ray Sickels

That Boy Johnny!
by Evelyn Ray Sickels, Jean Martinez (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

Johnny’s grandmother sews a new pair of pants for him, and hangs them up on the line to dry. But the wind is so strong that it blows the pants away, and Johnny is terribly disappointed. Johnny and his sisters get into mischief on the farm and have little adventures, until one day the peddler comes to the farm with a surprise.

I love this book so much! I read it over and over when I was a little girl. Johnny is so mischievous and full of energy. I love all the characters, from the delightful grandmother to the littlest sister. Their grandmother tells them stories about the days of the Civil War when her mother quilted a Liberty Quilt. Johnny’s father remembers the shenanigans he got into when he was a boy, and realizes how he and Johnny are so similar.

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